The avalanche happened in Number Five Gully on Ben Nevis. Photo: John Fielding CC-BY-SA-2.0

A climber was rescued after being injured in an avalanche on Ben Nevis.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was alerted on Wednesday after the incident in Number Five Gully on the mountain’s North Face.

Two climbers were caught in the avalanche, with one suffering a broken leg but the other escaping without serious injury.

A walker was also injured in a separate incident after falling in the area between Aonach Mòr and Carn Mòr Dearg.

Several members of mountain rescue teams were in the area close to where the avalanche took place and were able to go to the stricken climber’s aid. Climbers from the Lochaber team, along with members of the Tayside and Glenmore Lodge MRTs used equipment from the Charles Inglis Clark hut to package the casualty and move them to a point below the hut from where the Inverness Coastguard helicopter was able to airlift them to Belford Hospital in Fort William for further treatment.

The walker fell in the area between Aonach Mòr and Carn Mòr Dearg. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

While the rescue was underway the Lochaber team was alerted to the incident involving the injured walker. A team spokesperson said: “Thankfully R151 [the Coastguard helicopter] managed to get in between the squalls and lift the casualty directly out prior to transfer to the hospital.

“So once again a massive thanks to R151 for saving us another all-nighter and to our colleagues from Tayside and Glenmore for the assistance; very much appreciated peeps.

“And good luck to the two casualties in their recovery.”