Three people caught in avalanche

Feb 2 2013

Three people have been airlifted to hospital after being caught up in an avalanche in the Scottish mountains, police said.

The avalanche happened shortly before 11.30am in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the Cairngorms.

Northern Constabulary said the three were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness by air.

They are not believed to have suffered serious injuries. It is not thought that anyone else was caught up in the avalanche.

Police who responded to the incident said they were assisted by members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, an RAF helicopter and a Strathclyde Police mountain rescue team, who were carrying out training in the area.

Details of the casualties' injuries have not yet been revealed. Police have yet to reveal whether the three were male or female.

The incident comes two weeks after a killer avalanche claimed four lives in the Highlands.