Missing hiker sparks major air and land search in Cairngorms in winds gusting 100mph
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A rescue team leader described how a hiker who sparked a major air and land search after attempting to climb the UK's second highest mountain survived sub-zero temperatures and winds topping 100mph.
Justina Kolberg, from Edinburgh, had set off to scale 4295ft high Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms yesterday.
In total more than 50 mountain rescue team members searched for her – including those from Cairngorm, Aberdeen and Braemar MRTs.
A coastguard rescue helicopter from Inverness also joined the search.
The 32-year-old had been last seen in Aviemore yesterday but was found safe and well earlier today by members of the Cairngorm MRT.
"It had been blustery conditions and she managed to make her way to a bothy on the Cairngorm plateau," said Iain Cornfoot, leader of Cairngorm rescue team.
"She did well to do that. Wind speeds at the summit reached 115mph and there were regular gusts of 100mph.
"It was a cold night for her and when we found her she was cold. The temperature this morning was -2C and with the wind chill -15C.
"But it was the wind that was the problem. She was probably not well equipped for the conditions.
"She was lucky to find the bothy - there was also mist and the conditions certainly caught her out and she got a bit confused where she was. So she did well to reach the bothy.
"She had a survival blanket and there was some old blankets in the bothy which she used to keep as warm as she could.
"She had a pretty miserable night, but we warmed her up and walked her off the mountain and she was otherwise okay."
