Woman killed in mountain rockfall

The coastguard helped deal with an incident on a Skye mountain in which a woman died
12 April 2012

A woman died in a rockfall on a mountain, Mountain Rescue confirmed.

The female climber was hit by a boulder that was dislodged by her climbing partner on the Cioch Direct climb on the Cuillin hills on Skye.

He was also injured when he fell with the boulder. Two other climbers from a separate party - a man and a woman - were also injured by the boulder.

The woman sustained injuries to her back and chest, and the man fractured his shoulder and right hand.

He walked down the mountain to get help and was later taken to hospital by ambulance, Gerry Ackroyd from Skye Mountain rescue said.

A third party narrowly escaped injuries when they jumped out of the boulder's path.

Police, mountain rescue teams, and coastguard and RAF helicopters were scrambled to the Cuillin area of Skye shortly after 3pm on Tuesday. The rescue finished shortly before 9pm. None of the people involved in the accident have yet been formally identified.

All three injured people were taken to the Dr MacKinnon Memorial Hospital in Broadford on Skye.

Mr Akroyd paid tribute to the "Iron man" climber who made it down the hill with his fractured shoulder. He said: "He walked off down the hill for help. He must have been some kind of Iron man to do that with his injuries. He was taken to hospital by ambulance".

The second man was winched to hospital by helicopter and the woman carried out by stretcher.

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