Two skiers have survived falling 2,000ft down a mountainside at the Scottish ski resort of Glencoe after a massive avalanche swept them from the summit of the 3,600ft peak.
The lucky pair, aged 26 and 23, had ventured to the edge of the Cam Ghleann area of the mountain when the snow sheet cracked, sweeping them more than half the way down the mountain followed by hundreds of tonnes of snow.
Both skiers had managed to stay on top of the avalanche as it thundered down the mountain, allowing them to dig themselves free once they had drawn to a halt in the Cam Ghleann valley.
John Grieve, leader of the Glencoe mountain rescue team, said: “They had taken the ski lift to the summit of the mountain and they skied to the edge just to look down to the area called the Cam Ghleann without any intention of skiing it.
“But just as they went to have a look – and literally 10ft from the the ski run – the whole area cracked about 100 yards either side of them.
“Luckily, they stayed on the top, so when it came to stop they were quite near the surface and they could dig each other out.”
Both men were airlifted from the scene to Belford Hospital, Fort William, where one was treated for a leg injury.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
