Missing walker lucky to be found last night on Ben Nevis

A missing walker was lucky to be rescued from Ben Nevis last night after a HM Coastguard helicopter crew found him 2km from his reported position.
Wednesday night's rescue unfolded at 8.15pm when the HM Coastguard ARCC Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre received a call from Police Scotland reporting the man missing and ill-equipped to be on Ben Nevis overnight.
The HM Coastguard Inverness helicopter was sent to search for the man alongside Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team in a hazardous combination of driving rain, mist and strong winds.
The uninjured man, was in fact 2km from his reported position, and as the helicopter was repositioning back to the search area, he was spotted by the eagle-eyed helicopter Winch Operator Mark Lean, on a steep ledge at Five Finger Gully.
The successful rescue also marked the 1001st job for the HM Coastguard Inverness crews.
Speaking afterwards about the rescue Winch Operator Mark Lean said: 'The casualty was hard to locate as he was wearing all black and the only illumination was the back light of his mobile phone. Rescue 951 fortunately glimpsed him on the Infra Red camera as the aircraft was making a turn back to the reported search area. His location was in the notorious Five Finger Gully which has a sad history of fatalities and complicated technical rescues after navigational errors by walkers. Last night in severe turbulence and poor visibility, the crew of Rescue 951 had to reverse the helicopter into the gully in order to achieve the rescue. The casualty was precariously perched on a ledge with a sheer drop below and was still attempting to shuffle down the gully. Thankfully, he was uninjured and we were able to bring him to safety.'

[@thelasthourgetready]

People under estimate this mountain it's no joke. It's smaller that a Himalayan but has exactly the same dangers. Infact I think it has a more treacherous weather system that some of the larger peaks.

[@Nicholasvid]

Thanks for your hard work, make sure you think the team personally from me

[@6AlphaMikeCharlie9]

these people end up putting other people in harms way because they´re so reckless

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

What a plonker