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Sgurr nan Gillean

SGURR NAN GILLEAN – FATALITY

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At 1pm on Saturday 23rd August the team was tasked by police Scotland to go to the aid of a male in his 70s who had suffered a medical incident high up on Sgurr nan Gillean. R948, the Stornoway based Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, was also tasked but couldn’t reach the casualty due to the low cloudbase. R948 instead deployed 12MRT as close as possible to the incident. Despite the best efforts of his companions and the Rescue Team it was not possible to revive him. The team then escorted his companions off the hill and recovered his body to a position that was accessible for R948 to complete that process. Everyone at Skye MRT would like to convey our deepest condolences to his family. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the crew of R948 and to the management and staff of Sligachan Hotel for being there for us once again.
James Stephenson. SkyeMRT Deputy TL.
Rescue

Multiple Call-outs

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It was a busy weekend for the team, with multiple call-outs.

On Saturday, incidents began just after 1:30pm and the team were continuously out until 7:00am on Sunday morning.

One of these was an 8-hour rescue on Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich, after a well-equipped party of three were caught out by the weather and became cragfast near the summit— once again it turned into an all-nighter, with everyone safely down by first light.

WhatsApp Image 2025-06-07 at 12.58.54

Seven incidents in six days…

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Our busy spell continues, with another seven call-outs in the last six days.
 
On Wednesday morning, we were called out to assist a walker on the Skye Trail who had taken unwell and was extremely cold. The weather that day was pretty challenging, with poor visibility and strong winds in the hills. That incident was still ongoing when we received a second report: Roderick MacPherson, an experienced walker, had last been seen near Sligachan on Monday afternoon and had not made contact with his family since.
 
 
Extensive searches were carried out, mainly focusing on the Red Hills and parts of the Northern Cuillin. On Thursday, thanks to helpful information from a local guide, efforts shifted to the area around Bruach na Frìthe.
Around midday on Friday, with improved weather and cloudless tops, a body was sighted on a grassy ledge high on the cliffs between Harta and Lota Corries. It was immediately clear that lowering the casualty to safety would be long and technically demanding. A team member was lowered to a position above and confirmed there were no signs of life, and that significantly more equipment would be needed.
 
Fortunately, Stornoway Coastguard Helicopter R948 was able to return and carry out a direct lift from the ledge—an incredible effort and a huge relief. The helicopter later returned multiple times to help extract the teams and equipment back to Sligachan.
 
Skye MRT contributed over 350 hours to this search—not including the time and effort given by:
 
Police Scotland (N Division) Mountain Rescue
 
Search and Rescue Dog Association Scotland (SARDA Scotland)
Local Coastguard teams including HM Coastguard – Portree, Isle of Skye
 
The helicopter crews of R948 and R951
 
Our sincere thanks to all involved. Thanks also to the Sligachan Hotel for feeding and supporting us on Wednesday night and Thursday.
 
Finally, Skye MRT extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Roderick MacPherson at this very difficult time. While formal identification has yet to be made, we understand this will come as deeply sad news to those that knew him.
500830396_1024872586452204_1496311939633217733_n

Cuillin Call-Out – Sgùrr nan Eag

As the team approaches 20 call-outs for the month, we were tasked again yesterday following reports of a climber who had fallen approximately 15 metres on the north-west ridge of Sgùrr nan Eag.

Low cloud made things tricky—preventing Coastguard helicopter R948 from reaching the scene initially. However, they were able to uplift 10 team members partway up the hill, allowing us to continue on foot to reach the casualty.

After assessing and treating the climber for multiple injuries, he was lowered vertically in a stretcher to safer ground, then carried down to the lochan at Coire Ghrunnda with assistance from Kintail Mountain Rescue. Thankfully, the cloud lifted just enough for R948 to return and complete the evacuation—avoiding what would have been a very long stretcher carry. The casualty was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Huge thanks to the crew of R948 and our friends at Kintail Mountain Rescue and also Glenelg MRT who were on standby. We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

 

Skye MRT

Busy week!

With 3 callouts on  Saturday 4 September and several others over the last week, the year continues to be a busy one for the team.
 
On 29 August we were called out to help a female with a suspected broken ankle at the Storr. The casualty was taken to the Western Isles hospital by the Stornoway CG helicopter.
 
On Monday, 30th August three team members took a trip over the track to Camusunary to check the bothy for a solo walker who had not contacted his partner as planned. He was found safe and well.
 
We returned to the Storr on the 31st August to help our Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) colleagues who were treating another casualty with a suspected broken ankle.
 
On Saturday 4 September, whilst stretchering to the roadside another casualty who’d possibly broken her ankle on the path between Sligachan and the Fairy Pools, Police Scotland informed us that the Scot Amb Service needed help to evacuate a casualty from the Fairy Glen, near Uig. We had to turn that job down, with local HM Coastguard crews stepping in.
 
Shortly afterwards the phone rang again and we were asked to deal with a cragfast (stuck) walker on nearby Bruach na Frithe. Three of our team left our stretcher party and quickly located the walker. She was then brought on to safer ground and accompanied to Sligachan by a team member.
 
We also found time on Sunday 29th August for some ropework training on the Cuillin ridge…..👌

 

 
Fairy Pools. Skye
Old Man of Storr
Emerfgency Services at the Fairy Pools

Fairy Pools x 2

Two callouts in recent days. On Tuesday we responded to reports of a female with an ankle injury on the Bruach na Frithe traverse path above the Fairy Pools. Eight MRT attended and stretchered the casualty to the roadside

Today we assisted the @Scotambservice and Stornoway CG helicopter crew dealing with a casualty who’d fallen into the water at the Fairy Pools. The casualty was winched aboard the helicopter and taken to Raigmore Hospital.
 
Emerfgency Services at the Fairy Pools
Fairy Pools Skye
999-2021-06-13 at 12.18.13

June Rescues

Skye MRT communication equipment
A busy time for the team over the last few weeks including several call outs over the last 4 days.
 
Last Friday a trials rider was airlifted to Raigmore from the Trotternish Ridge after falling and fracturing their lower leg.
 
12 Skye MRT were in attendance as were the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter crew .
 
We wish the casualty a speedy recovery and hope they regain their sea legs soon.
 
On Saturday we were called out to help a runner who had fallen close to the ‘Tourist route’ of Sgurr nan Gillean after the rock they were standing on gave way.
 
Despite a badly fractured wrist and head injury, they were able to make their own way down to Allt Dearg Beag at which point 5 team members were on hand to offer some pain relief and assistance with the walk out to Sligachan.
 
Yesterday morning, a party of two were escorted off Trotternish ridge after finding themselves unable to navigate down in worsening weather conditions.
Nine skye MRT personnel helped them to safety in high winds and driving rain.
Trotternish rescue
Trotternish Rescue 2
R948 At the Storr

Sledging Accident, Old Man of Storr

R948 At the Storr

SkyeMRT were called at 13:30 on Sunday 31 January after reports that a local man had seriously injured himself whilst sledging close to the Old Man of Storr. 12 MRT attended as well as the Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway. The team were able to administer pain relief and fully immobilise the casualty before the helicopter arrived and airlifted him to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

Old Man of Storr
Sledging accident, Old Man of Storr
R948 At the Storr

Sledging Accident, Old Man of Storr

R948 At the Storr

SkyeMRT were called at 13:30 on Sunday 31 January after reports that a local man had seriously injured himself whilst sledging close to the Old Man of Storr. 12 MRT attended as well as the Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway. The team were able to administer pain relief and fully immobilise the casualty before the helicopter arrived and airlifted him to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

Old Man of Storr
Sledging accident, Old Man of Storr

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Sluggans Rescue Unit,
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Portree,
Isle of Skye, 
IV51 9LY

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If you require assistance in an emergency, dial 999, ask for POLICE and then MOUNTAIN RESCUE.

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