UPDATE: Climber suffers chest and leg injuries in fall in Coire an t-Sneachda
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A climber has suffered chest and leg injuries in a fall in Coire an t-Sneachda yesterday.
The man, in his 30s, fell an unknown distance.
Around the same time, in a separate incident, a woman in her 50s sustained leg injuries in a fall in the reindeer paddocks above Glenmore Forest.
The incidents stretched Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team who sent 25 members between both incidents.
Willie Anderson, deputy leader of the team, said both calls came in around 1pm and high winds had prevented a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from extracting the climber.
It meant teams of rescuers carrying him by stretcher in the challenging conditions.
The Prestwick Rescue 199 chopper was able to airlift the woman to the CMRT's base at Inverdruie by Aviemore and a waiting ambulance.
"The climber was with companions and fell just below Jacob's Ladder in Coire an t-Sneachda. We don't know how far, but it was a significant fall," said Mr Anderson.
"It was a sliding fall into rocks on the hard snowpack.
"He suffered leg and chest injuries and we managed to stretcher him to the car park for onward transportation by ambulance.
"A coastguard helicopter from Prestwick took the woman – who had a suspected broken leg after a slip above Glenmore Forest – to an ambulance. It was cold and the wind was gusting up to 50 knots - which affected both rescues. With them happening at the same time, that was another factor, but the team coped well."
The team was back at base by 7pm.
It is believed the injured pair were to be taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Their condition is unknown.
The corrie is a popular destination for climbers, primarily because of its easy accessibility from the Cairn Gorm ski centre and the relatively reliable snow and ice conditions throughout the winter season.
The Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team relies on donations in order to carry out its work.
