The Scouts were flown back to Sluggan Bridge near Carrbridge. Photo: Jim Bain CC-BY-SA-2.0
A group of Scouts was airlifted from a remote bothy after being reported missing in the Cairngorms.
The Inverness Coastguard helicopter located the eight youngsters who had taken shelter in the building beside the River Dulnain as night fell on Thursday.
Police Scotland alerted Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and the helicopter crew flew to the area, south-west of Carrbridge.
The Coastguard crew used its infra-red thermal-imaging camera to find the group, aged between 10 and 14, who were waving and flashing lights towards the helicopter.
A Coastguard spokesperson said: “As Scouts, they were totally prepared and had lit a fire inside the bothy to keep warm, when it turned dark and the weather began to get colder.
“The Coastguard helicopter landed near the bothy and took the youngsters on a trip of a lifetime back to Sluggan Bridge where Police Scotland and the Cairngorms Mountain Rescue Team were waiting for them.
“They were given a warm welcome by their Scout friends who’d raised the alarm that they were overdue.”
Helicopter captain Simon Hammock said: “We were tasked to assist the police and Cairngorm MRT who were on scene co-ordinating the search.
“As darkness fell we were all relieved to find the group safe and well. They had travelled a significant distance across uneven ground and as the weather deteriorated had elected to seek shelter in a bothy.
“Their scouting training had been put to good use and had ultimately ensured their safety. They had a fire lit for warmth and upon hearing the helicopter signalled us by flashing lights and waving clothing.
“We landed next to the bothy and as our winchman Jon approached the group one of the smallest asked: ‘Can we have a lift’? and then quickly followed up with ‘Are we in trouble’?
“He was able to put their minds at rest and when we returned them to their camp they were met with open arms by the other Cubs and Scouts. A great result.”
Coastguard footage shows the Scouts waving to attract attention at the bothy
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland was made aware of concern for the group of eight youngsters at about 6.45pm on Thursday.
“Following search activity based on advice from local estate staff and Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, the group, aged between 11 and 14 years old, was traced safe and well sheltering in a bothy near the River Dulnain by the crew of coastguard helicopter Rescue 951 at about 8.40pm.
“They were airlifted by the helicopter crew and returned to the rest of their party.”
Inspector Mike Middlehurst said: “This was a very well co-ordinated operation and we are very grateful to our partners, especially Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and the local estate staff, whose local knowledge and expertise helped locate the children quickly and safely.
“The group was well equipped with maps, food and water and thankfully they did the right thing by seeking shelter in the bothy which helped with finding them.”
Margaret
11 August 2017Where were the group's supervisors?
Robert
11 August 2017Doesn't sound like they needed them. Well trained and did the right thing. No snowflakes...
Margaret
12 August 2017Supervisors are there to resolve problems like this.
Rk
12 August 2017Their "supervisors" were clearly there when this group really needed them - prior to the exped when they were trained in how to keep themselves safe in the hills. This is exactly what the scout movement is about, teaching youngsters how to put themselves out of their comfort zone and then how to cope if things don't go to plan.
Well done to the scouts and to those who came to help them.
Che GSL
12 August 2017Good Scouts don't need leaders. They ARE leaders.
Margaret
12 August 2017You'll find that all Local Authorities require that groups of young people on the hills will be supervised (closely or remotely) as part of their Adventure Activities Licensing Service license. The Scouts also follow those regulations, see here; https://members.scouts.org.uk/fs120630
Wording will be something like this, "...the supervisor will be in the expedition or activity area and able to reach the group reasonably promptly should the group need support in an emergency."
jrm
12 August 2017The remarks in defence of these scouts is way of target. First up we have an individual arriving at the conclusion the scouts did not need help, claiming that they were "Well trained and did the right thing". How would they know if they were well trained. Well from where I'm seeing it, these scouts didn't appear to have sufficient training or have a basic understanding of topography, how else can these scouts getting lost be explained, with so many landmarks in that area (and I'm not referring to the adventure park). Nor would it appear they had a basic understanding of map reading, as if they did they could have done some resection and could have found their location to within 200meters.
The comments by Mountain Recue team leader Willie Anderson makes it very clear when he said
“They were hopelessly lost. The scout leaders went to look for them.
“After a few hours of looking they called for us to help. 951 from Inverness found them quite a distance away from where they should have been.
“They were up behind Alvie Estate on open moorland. Although they had a wee adventure they were all fine.
“It was all well intentioned but maybe a wee bit officious letting them go unsupervised.”
Asked what advice he would offer, he said: “Just try and make sure you can read your maps – but that’s been the story for the last 30 years, so there’s no change.”
Indeed Willie's wise words should be absorbed and acted on, and for these supervisors to let these kids go off without the fundamental basics such as being taught map reading skill to a sufficient level by a competent person could have led to a serious situation.
So much for the motto "be prepared".
Thankfully we have guys like Willie Anderson and his fellow team members, and not forgetting all the other organisations and their team members who are involved in search and rescue
Ian512
12 August 2017The Scout organisation follows the guidance provided by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (HSE) with regard to supervision and whether that supervision is 'close' or 'remote'.
Andy M
13 August 2017Regardless of whether they should have been unsupervised, or got lost in the first place (the Monadh liath around the Dulnain is not exactly the easiest place to navigate through, even in good weather), the important point is that they then did exactly the right thing when they found shelter.
Ian512
13 August 2017Regardless of what the young people did or didn't do, it is in fact all about supervision; either 'close' supervision or 'remote' supervision.
Kc
13 August 2017As a scout leader it is great to hear that the Scouts were well trained and acted sensibly once lost. I have recently remotely supervised Explorer Scouts on a D of E expedition who got lost but had the map reading skills to realise, re-trace and get back on course without any intervention. I would have to say that in my opinion some form of remote supervision has to be advisable for a group with Scouts as young as 11.
Peter Owens
13 August 2017It seems that the children made navigation errors in remote country, were fortunate to chance on the bothy, and were able to look after themselves. No-one was hurt. Well done them! I bet they enjoyed the chopper ride.
However, I hope the adults who were in charge of the group will reflect most seriously on the procedures, training and supervision that led up to these events and will learn lessons so that the young children in their charge can enjoy exciting challenges outdoors without involving mountain rescue teams and helicopters.