Walker airlifted to hospital after suffering 'stroke' while on Highland hike near caves

A walker has been airlifted to hospital after suffering a suspected stroke while hiking near a Highland cave.

Crews from Assynt Mountain Rescue, the Scottish Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard responded to the call-out at the Bones Caves near Inchnadamph.

The casualty was airlifted from the site by coastguard helicopter Rescue 948 from Stornoway to the air ambulance and taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

With no mobile coverage at the tourist spot, a member of the public used the satellite SOS function on their iPhone to alert emergency services.

Assynt MRT said on Facebook: “We were tasked today by Police Scotland Highland & Islands to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service with a walker at the Bones Caves who had a suspected stroke.

“Due to the potentially seriousness nature of the situation, coastguard helicopter Rescue 948 from Stornoway was tasked and was able to lift the casualty to the waiting helimed for onward travel to hospital.

“There is no mobile network coverage at the Bone Caves, so a quick-thinking member of the public used the satellite SOS function on their iPhone to alert the emergency services.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 10.45am on March 27 to attend an incident near the Bone Caves, Inchnadamph.

“An ambulance, air ambulance, BASICS Scotland doctor and HM Coastguard were dispatched to the scene.

“One patient was transported by the air ambulance to Raigmore Hospital.”

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “At around 11.26am on Thursday, March 27, HM Coastguard was called to assist Police Scotland and Assynt Mountain Rescue Team with a casualty at Bone Caves in the vicinity of Ben More in Scotland.

“An HM Coastguard Rescue Helicopter was sent and transferred the casualty into the care of a Scottish Ambulance Service helicopter for onward transit to hospital.”