A disorientated and exhausted snowboarder survived sub-zero temperatures, snow storms and high winds on top of a Cairngorm mountain in Scotland by cuddling up with his dog.
“I think the dog really helped him survive. The dog was fine – but the guy was suffering in worsening weather and as darkness fell.”
The man in his 30’s from Edinburgh and the Labrador cross were rescued in the Cairngorms at the weekend – after being found keeping warm in a bivvy bag. Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team helped the pair – who were near the summit of 4,085ft high Cairn Gorm – to safety on Saturday.
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The boarder managed to raise the alarm using his mobile phone around 5.30 pm and 23 members of the rescue team responded. Two rescuers on skis reached the man and his dog at over 3,000ft two hours later. The boarder was taken back to base by around 10pm.
“He was cold, scared and very aware of the difficult situation he had got himself to,” Al Gilmour, chairman of Cairngorm MRT told the Press and Journal, “It was minus 5 or 6C with 30-40mph winds. It was snowing all the time. He was very well equipped but was starting to become overcome by the conditions and would have found surviving the night difficult. The dog helped keep him warm in his bivvy bag.”
