Two walkers freeze to death and one climber killed in avalanche on day of carnage on Scots mountains

Storms already thought to have claimed couple from Bradford.

A casualty is taken from a search and rescue helicopter after an avalanche in the Creag Meagaidh area near Fort William

THREE climbers have perished in a day of carnage on Scotland's mountains. Two died of hypothermia after three elderly friends were stranded overnight at Durisdeer, Dumfries-shire. ]

George Crosbie, 73, died on Wednesday but the identity of the second hillwalker has not been revealed.

George Crosbie, 73, died on Wednesday but the identity of the second hillwalker has not been revealed. A third man is recovering in hospital. In a separate incident a climber was killed by an avalanche near Fort William, Inverness-shire.

Where the incidents occurred in Scotland's mountains

Pals Bobby Thomson, 64, George Crosbie, 73, and Jeffrey Stewart, 74, were flown to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary after they were found by rescuers yesterday morning. The survivor is said to be in a stable condition and speaking to doctors.

 Cops would not identify who died until relatives were informed but confirmed all were from Dumfries. In the Cairngorms, two men were taken by helicopter to Belford Hospital, in Fort William,after the avalanche on Creag Meagaidh which killed one.

The other was thought to be in critical condition. Rescuers told how one of the elderly hillwalkers froze to death in raging storms just two miles from the safety of a village.
Bobby Thomson, George Crosbie, and Jeffrey Stewart were found following a 14-hour search after they spent the night in sub-zero temperatures with no camping gear.
Relatives raised the alarm when they failed to return from their hike at Durisdeer, Dumfries-shire.
Cops would not say which of the pals had passed away until the body was formally identified.
A woman at George’s home said: “His wife is at the hospital. I can’t tell you anything."
The friends had been expected home on Tuesday afternoon after setting out in the morning.
A major land and air search was launched as darkness fell but it was called off hours later after crews were hampered by torrential rain and fierce winds.
The group was finally spotted at midday yesterday by a search and rescue helicopter about 2½ miles east of Durisdeer.
They were airlifted to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where one was declared dead after he was struck down with suspected hypothermia.
A police spokesman said: “The two other men are being treated for hypothermia in the hospital.
“Next of kin are being informed and the fiscal has been informed.”
Meanwhile Tim Newton, 27, and Rachel Slater, 24, were feared dead after four days lost on Ben Nevis. 
The search for the pair of Ben Nevis was diverted at 3.13pm to aid other climbers follwoing the avalanche 3710-feet up Creag Meagaidh.
Rescue team leader John Stevenson said: “We expect more bad weather so everything is on hold.”
John Stevenson, leader of Lochaber MRT, earlier said they were baffled why despite Ben Nevis being full of "hundreds" of climbers and walkers at the weekend, nobody had a positive identification of where missing climbers Rachel Slater and Tim Newton had been.
"The most likely explanation is that they could have got caught up and been buried in an avalanche. It is the number one theory we are working on. It is very possible," said Mr Stevenson.
"The conditions all weekend were very good and in a poor winter when they conditions are good, the mountain just gets hammered by climbers and walkers. There were people all over it, yet nobody has definitely seen this pair. Obviously the longer we go on looking the more worried you become."
Mr Stevenson said two of his own team had been swept a couple of hundred metres by an avalanche looking for Ms Slater and Mr Newton on Tuesday.
"The conditions are too dangerous to go back on the mountain at the moment. Avalanche is the big worry. We need the snow to settle. Unfortunately snow is being dumped in the very places we need to look.
"The forecast is not looking good ahead either. But we are hoping there may be a break in the conditions so we can have a look from a helicopter. We have made the request. Obviously our feelings are with the families - it is very difficult for them."