Two skiers who went missing overnight in the Scottish mountains survived sub-zero temperatures by huddling together in a snow hole as they waited to be rescued.
Astounding footage shows the moment the two men, both in their late 40s, were spotted by mountain rescue teams on the Cairngorm plateau at 8am today.
The alarm was raised after one text his wife begging her to call the emergency services at 8.30pm yesterday.
An operation was put into action at 9pm, with rescue teams searching far and wide until 3.45am.
The hunt resumed at 6am with the help of the RAF and neighbouring search teams, two hours before they were finally airlifted to safety.
Two cross country skiers were rescued by a mountain rescue team in the Cairngorms this morning after getting lost in poor visibility late yesterday. Pictured is a member of the rescue team in a snow-covered all-terrain vehicle
The cross country skiers got lost in poor visibility south of Ben Macdui as they fought their way across the peak.
They managed to dig a small snow hole just below the 4,295ft summit where they braved -10C (14F) by huddling together for warmth.
Four members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) searched tirelessly until the early hours when they forced to retire.
At 6am their colleagues, accompanied by rescue teams from Braemar and RAF Lossiemouth got back to work.
Two hours later they were finally spotted by an Inverness coastguard helicopter and airlifted to safety at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore.
Willie Anderson, leader of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said the men were experienced and well equipped.
Astounding footage (pictured) shows the moment the two men, both in their late 40s, were spotted by mountain rescue teams on the Cairngorm plateau at 8am today
One (pictured from above) managed to text his wife asking her to call the emergency services
Their route appeared to have followed the path coming up from Loch Etchachan, reached from Loch Avon.
Mr Anderson said: ‘The ski tourers got caught out by the weather. The visibility deteriorated and it got dark.
‘One texted his wife at 8.30pm to say to contact the emergency services.
‘They dug a small hole in the snow – a few feet wide – but it was enough to help them survive the conditions and keep warm. It was easily minus 10C there last night – easily.
‘They were experienced, had all the right equipment, and did the right thing.
‘One of them had done the route before. They huddled together and kept warm and survived the night.
‘They were fine when they were airlifted by the helicopter to our base. We gave them a cup of tea to warm them up.
‘But they did not need any medical treatment. They certainly have had a night to remember.’
The cross country skiers got lost in poor visibility as they fought their way across the peak (Cairngorms pictured)
They managed to dig a small snow hole just below the 4,295ft summit (pictured) where they braved -10C (14F) by huddling together for warmth
Last month two skiers were airlifted to safety after being discovered in a ‘precarious position’ on a Highland mountain ridge.
The pair had survived a night without shelter in sub-zero temperatures after becoming stuck at 3,000 ft at Bidean nam Bian in Glen Coe.
Blizzard conditions prevented a mountain rescue team from reaching them after they raised the alarm on January 19.
They were finally winched to safety by a HM Coastguard helicopter at about 8.30am the next day.
Both men were taken to Torlundy, Fort William, before being handed over to the Scottish Ambulance Service.
In a statement then, HM Coastguard urged people not to put themselves in any ‘unnecessary danger’ if they venture into the mountains.
‘Remember to be prepared, UK mountains should not be underestimated as they can be unforgiving for even the most experienced people,’ it added.
A map shows where the two men got lost and had to huddle together for warmth as they waited for hours to be rescued
‘Severe weather conditions could mean a change in your environment within minutes and navigation could be difficult.
‘White-out snow conditions could also make paths and tracks dangerously impassable.’
Meanwhile a hillwalker is still missing on Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. He is believed to be buried under avalanche debris.
The man fell through a cornice, an overhanging ledge of snow, into Observatory Gully below on January 21.
Rescuers were able reach two other men who were with him, but bad weather and avalanches on the day and since have limited searches for the missing man.
Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team have been checking Observatory Gully whenever conditions have allowed.
Lochaber MRT said some of the ice blocks involved were the size of household fridges, and in some places the debris was of a depth of up 49ft (15m).
They managed to dig a small snow hole just below the 4,295ft summit where they braved -10C (14F) by huddling together for warmth as they waited for the Inverness coastguard helicopter (pictured)