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June 7 2025

Seven incidents in six days…

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

Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service

Kintail Mountain Rescue

Glenelg 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.

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May 28 2025

Cuillin Call-Out – Sgùrr nan Eag

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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.

September 6 2021

Busy week!

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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…..

July 2 2021

Fairy Pools x 2

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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.

June 14 2021

June Rescues

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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.

February 1 2021

Sledging Accident, Old Man of Storr

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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.

February 1 2021

Sledging Accident, Old Man of Storr

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November 1 2020

Leg injury, Old Man of Storr

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The Halloween cobwebs were well and truly blown off this afternoon when 15 members of @SkyeMRT rescued a casualty with a leg injury at the #OldManofStorr. Conditions were dreadful with 60mph winds and driving rain but the rescue was completed quickly and the casualty evacuated to the care of @Scotambservice

Rescue on Sgurr Alasdair, 22 October 2020

October 23 2020

2 Incidents: Sgurr Alasdair and The Storr

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Two quite differing call-outs yesterday, just to keep us on our toes. Mid-morning a male went off route on Sgurr Alasdair and became crag-fast. Luckily, he’d enough phone signal to raise the alarm. A long and difficult search ensued in what were misty, murky, greasy conditions.

The casualty could be heard at a fairly early stage, but getting to him was another matter entirely. Thankfully, with light fading, the clag lifted and the Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway was able to ‘pick-off’ the casualty from his rather precarious position in what was a fantastic piece of flying. Back at base the casualty commented, “Thanks to everyone who helped me stay alive today.” 12 MRT were involved in this search and rescue, with more team members back at base as back-up. Team members were uplifted by helicopter to Coire Lagan, saving us time and energy before we started our search.

At the same time a female with a broken ankle at the Storr was given first aid, ‘packaged’ by our Team and winched aboard the Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway. She was flown to Broadford hospital for treatment. Six MRT were involved in this call-out.

Once again, many thanks to both helicopter crews from Stornoway. Your professionalism is always reassuring and your help is always much appreciated.

Stay safe, everyone.

September 23 2020

2 Incidents, south west Skye

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About 3.45pm on Tuesday 23 September, Skye Mountain Rescue Team were called to locate and assist a person who was stuck between swollen rivers on the path between Camusunary and Sligachan. One MRT group made their way to Kilmarie by vehicle and then onwards to Camusunary along the coastal track, and another group walked south from Sligachan. About 6.20pm the person was located near Caumusunary having received assistance from other walkers. They were all conveyed to Sligachan by Skye MRT.

Around 4.50pm Police Scotland received a call from 2 casualties who were in need of assistance at ‘The Bad Step’ – Loch Coruisk, on the Isle of Skye.

The Mallaig Coastguard Rescue Team were transported by Mallaig RNLI lifeboat to the RV point, and on scene, the Y-boat was launched to recover the casualties. Skye MRT who were already at Kilmarie accompanied the Skye Coastguard Teams to Camusunary to standby in case further assistance was required.

The casualties received treatment for their minor injuries and were then transferred to their forward destination by the Portree Coastguard Rescue Team.