Body found in search for walker

Feb 11 2013

A hillwalker has been found dead after five others were rescued in the Scottish Highlands.

A major search operation involving 112 people from the police, RAF and mountain rescue teams was launched when the party of six men were reported overdue in the Cairngorms on Sunday afternoon.

Braemar Mountain Rescue Team located five of the walkers, uninjured, on a hill near Carn Tarsuinn at around 12.10pm on Monday. They have been flown to safety at a site close to Aviemore.

Shortly afterwards the sixth man's body was found in the Jacob's Ladder area of the mountains, police confirmed. His identity has not yet been revealed, although Northern Constabulary said there are no other missing people in the area.

The man will not be named until his next of kin have been told.

The walkers were part of a large group of 35 people who were visiting the Highlands, police said. The party of six are members of the Leeds University Mountaineering Club, and thought to be in their 20s.

The search was co-ordinated by Northern Constabulary and Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, with assistance from Braemar and Dundonnell mountain rescue teams and officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who are thought to have been in the area on a training exercise.

Further help was given by mountain rescue team members from the Lake District and Ogwen Valley in Wales, as well as sniffer dogs. Meanwhile, the RAF sent mountain rescue personnel from RAF stations in Lossiemouth, Leuchars and Leeming.

Police inquiries into the incident are continuing. The immediate next of kin of the man who died have been informed of his death, police said.No further information will be released until other family members have been told.