Hillwalker praises Torridon Mountain Rescue Team after falling on Beinn Liath Mhòr

A hillwalker who was airlifted to hospital after falling on a Munro has praised the mountain rescue team that saved him.

Martin Fair from Arbroath is in the process of completing all 282 Munros and decided to tackle three over the weekend with friends.

On Saturday, the 58-year-old Church of Scotland minister had just reached the summit of Beinn Liath Mhòr in the Highlands and had stopped for a bite to eat.

However on the way back down, he took a tumble and fell down the hill.

“I don’t know if I tripped or slipped or lost my balance or what. But my friend said I just went hurtling down this rocky outcrop and landed on rocks at the bottom,” Mr Fair told STV News.

“The first thing I knew about it is that he was there talking to me and bandaging my head etc. I still didn’t know what had happened and felt no pain. I think that was the shock of it.

“I still thought I was fine and could just walk out but of course that was a non-starter and so my two friends got me down to a safer spot and then organised the rescue, with me bundled up in a survival blanket and in the emergency shelter that we always carry.”

Mr Fair’s friends called 999 and the Torridon Mountain Rescue Team and the Coastguard helicopter were mobilised to the scene, however it was too windy for the aircraft to land.

The mountain rescue team instead hiked to where Mr Fair lay and assisted him to the helicopter which flew him to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Doctors checked Mr Fair over and stitched his head back together but miraculously nothing had been broken in the fall and he was allowed to return home on Sunday.

Mr Fair has praised Torridon Mountain Rescue Team for their assistance following his fall, adding they told him not to be disheartened on his quest to conquer Scotland’s Munros.

“They were brilliant. They got there so quickly of course and were as professional as they always are in assessing my condition and how best to get me to safety,” Mr Fair said.

“I remember one of them saying to me ‘Don’t let this put you off going to the hills – accidents happen’.

“They appreciated that we were experienced and well equipped and that my friends had done all the right things in response to the accident.”

Mr Fair has urged other hillwalkers to be prepared when heading out onto Scotland’s mountains.

“Even the simplest hill on the nicest day requires you to be properly equipped,” he said.

“If you’re just starting out, go with and learn from others who are more experienced. Know how to call for help if the worst should happen and never think ‘it couldn’t happen to me’.’

“But with the necessary precautions, there’s nothing to beat a day in the Scottish hills.”

In a statement on their Facebook page, Torridon Mountain Rescue Team said: “It has been a busy few days for the team with a rescue on Friday, a rescue yesterday and training today, we wish both casualties a speedy recovery.

“Many thanks to all team members for the help and commitment and also thanks to the crew of Rescue 151 for the assistance on both rescues.”