Women rescued from Ben Lomond charged with Covid breach

Two women have been charged with breaching coronavirus restrictions after being rescued from Ben Lomond in Stirlingshire.

The women, in their twenties, had travelled from Fife to go walking but needed to phone for help after getting into difficulty in poor weather on Saturday afternoon.

Lomond Mountain Rescue Team and emergency services assisted the two walkers from near the summit of Ben Lomond to the foot of the mountains by around 6.30pm.

#CallOut Ben Lomond 14.40 to assist two walkers near the summit who required the Teams help. All safely returned to the foot of the mountain by 18.30 (Pic G Kelly & S Tinley LMRT) pic.twitter.com/ljzxWe6jFd
— Lomond MRT (@LomondMRT) January 23, 2021

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers were called to assist Mountain Rescue partners on Ben Lomond at around 2pm on Saturday, 23 January, 2021 after two female walkers requested assistance to descend the hill in deteriorating weather conditions.

“The women were assisted and walked off the hill and both uninjured. They have been charged in connection with culpable and reckless conduct.”

Coronavirus travel restrictions are in place across the whole of mainland Scotland – meaning people should only leave their homes for an essential purpose, including caring responsibilities, essential shopping, exercise and being part of an extended household.