Hillwalker, 72, trapped on cliff ledge for more than 24 hours rescued

The pensioner had become trapped while walking around lunchtime on Sunday in Kinloch Hourn.

Hillwalker, 72, trapped on Highlands cliff ledge for more than 24 hours rescued — Rescue: The 72-year-old had become trapped while walking around lunchtime on Sunday in Kinloch Hourn. RNLI

23rd May 2023

A hillwalker has been rescued after being trapped on a cliff ledge in the Highlands for more than 24 hours.

Kyle RNLI lifeboat ‘Spirit of Fred. Olsen’ was called into action at around 1.20pm on Monday, after the Coastguard received a call from a hillwalker to say he had become trapped in the Kinloch Hourn area.

The 72-year-old had become trapped while walking around lunchtime on Sunday in Kinloch Hourn, which is considered to be one of the most inaccessible wildernesses in the UK.

Alongside Glenelg Mountain Rescue Team, rescuers located the man at around 7pm after he had been stuck on a small ledge just above the waterline for more than 24 hours.

The lifeboat crew managed to get him onboard before making their way back to Kyle, where he was reunited with his family at 7.30pm – more than six hours after the initial call.

A spokesperson for Kyle RNLI said: “This gentleman is an experienced walker who had unfortunately become trapped in an impossible situation, unable to go forward or back.

“Due to the location, he had no mobile signal from the time he had become trapped until Monday lunchtime, when he noticed he had a very weak one.

“He was then able to get in touch with the emergency services who launch a search and rescue operation.

“We regularly train with other rescue agencies and by working well with everyone involved, we were able to return him back to his family safely.”