A hiker had to be airlifted to safety after becoming injured on a Scots Munro amid a "considerable" avalanche risk.
The hillwalker had been attempting to descend Bidean nam Bian in Glencoe when they hurt their lower limb today. Police Scotland were alerted to the call for help and handed the incident over to teams at Glencoe Mountain Rescue (GMR).
But, as crews scrambled to assemble their equipment, a decision was made to call in HM Coastguard due to a high risk of snow slide on the mountain's steep slopes. Fortunately, there was a helicopter in the vicinity having just completed a rescue on Ben Nevis.
The multi-force operation saw HM Coastguard crews from Stornoway descend onto the mountain before quickly locating the casualty. The hillwalker was then brought down to the glen, where they were met by paramedics from the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Dramatic images from the incident show the Coastguard helicopter arriving at the base of the Murno as the daytime sky turns dark. The hiker's condition is currently unknown.
A statement from Glencoe Mountain Rescue reads: "GMR was recently requested by Police Scotland, to attend to a hill walker who had sustained a lower limb injury while attempting to descend from Bidean nam Bian.
"As team members assembled and prepared equipment, a decision was made to ask for support from a HM Coastguard.
"Due to the distance involved and the potential for a long carry in the dark with a 'considerable' avalanche risk on some slopes. Fortunately, there was an S-92 in the vicinity having just completed a rescue on Ben Nevis.
"The crew from Stornoway were able to quickly locate the casualty and the rest of their party before bringing them down to the glen where they were met by a Scottish Ambulance Service crew.
"Thank you to the full-time services for their support during this rescue. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery."
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