05 September 2023 , 04:25
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Four police officers have been rescued from a peak in Skye during torrential conditions.
A search and rescue helicopter scrambled to the incident at the summit of Sgurr Dubh Mor on Saturday, September 2. Mountain Rescue teams and HM Coastguard crews were called to the late-night emergency after the off-duty cops got into difficulty while scaling the Cuillin Ridge.
The group had managed to climb up the Dubh's slabs from Coruisk but had been unable to find their way back down. A Coastguard rescue helicopter made its way to the 3,097ft mountain at around 8pm but hopes were dashed when it had to turn away due to worsening weather.
Instead, a decision was made to rescue the group by foot. Teams from Skye Mountain Rescue eventually reached the four officers at 2am, where they were found cold and wet, reports Daily Record.
At that point, the rescue crews said the rain had become "relentless" - leading to difficult route finding, swollen streams and slippery rocks. But by carefully retracing their steps, all hikers managed to return to ground level by 7am - almost 12 hours after the emergency call for help was made the previous day.
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Loch Corvisk and Cuillin ridge from Sgurr na Stri (Getty Images)A statement from Skye Mountain Rescue reads: "Five team members had a very long, wet night on the hill on Saturday night after being called out to help a party of four stuck on Sgurr Dubh Mor. The group had climbed up the Dubh's slabs from Coruisk but had been unable to find their way back down.
"Hope of helicopter assistance was dashed when R948 from Stornoway turned back due to worsening weather. Setting off just before 10.30pm, the team eventually reached the summit at 2am, and found the cold, wet climbers after a short descent to the North.
"The rain was now relentless leading to difficult route finding, swollen streams and slippery rocks, but by carefully retracing their steps, all were back at Glen Brittle by 7am. Certainly an experience for all involved there were some very tired (and grateful) people back at base this morning!"