Rescuers warning to hill walkers

Hill walkers are urged to ensure they are well-equipped

Emergency response teams in the Trossachs have called on hill walkers to ensure they were well prepared, after a spate of "avoidable" rescues.

Central Scotland Police said rescuers' lives were being put at risk because walkers were often unprepared and ill-equipped for the terrain they faced.

The call came after three people were led to safety by rescue teams in two separate incidents in recent days.

Changeable weather and disorientation

were the main causes of rescue calls.

Ch Insp Kevin Findlater, said: "Most of these mountain rescues can be avoided if people are better prepared.

Recently we have been called to assist hill walkers who have spent long, miserable hours, sometimes overnight, stranded on the mountains risking hypothermia Bill Rose Killin Mountain Rescue

"Other people's lives are put at risk to find missing hill walkers and, thankfully, all the rescues so far have had happy endings."

The officer recalled the case of a 49-year-old who called police to say he was lost and disorientated on Stuc a Chroin/Beinn Each.

After a four-hour search in mist and darkness by Killin Mountain Rescue Team, the man was found several kilometres south of Beinn Each.

Ch Insp Findlater added: "He was poorly equipped, had no safety equipment and was very cold and very embarrassed."

In another rescue, two walkers were led to safety after they became lost on Conic Hill, in Balfron, in fog and rain.

Bill Rose, of the Killin team, said: "Recently we have been called to assist hill walkers who have spent long, miserable hours, sometimes overnight, stranded on the mountains risking hypothermia.

"In some cases they have sustained serious injury by falling on steep ground they have encountered due to the inability to navigate in mist."

Mr Rose urged walkers to learn how to navigate in poor visibility with a map and compass.

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