Two climbers died and two others were injured after being swept away by a series of avalanches in Scotland’s mountains.
Both bodies were found buried in deep snow on the north face of Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, which stands at 1,344m (4,409ft).
Another climber had watched as the two men were caught in hundreds of tons of snow slab and swept about 400m (1,312ft) down the Coire na Ciste area of the mountain.
Meanwhile, police said a man swept away on Liathach in Torridon, also in the Scottish Highlands, was found and airlifted to hospital for treatment.
A third rescue operation was launched after an avalanche on a mountain near Bridge of Orchy in Argyll in which three people were buried. All were rescued and only one was injured.
The accidents happened just hours after warnings from Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) about hazardous conditions on the hills.
The Ben Nevis avalanche was reported shortly before 11am and Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (MRT), a RAF helicopter and six RAF mountain rescue team members joined the search operation.
One body was located buried in the debris about 12.50pm by rescuers using probes and the second about 90 minutes later a few hundred yards away, also buried in the deep snow.
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