Assynt Mountain Rescue Team praise ‘super well-equipped’ hillwalker airlifted from north-west Highlands by HM Coastguard after suffering suspected broken leg

14 March 2025

A stricken hillwalker who sparked an air and land rescue mission today in the remote north-west Highlands has been praised for preparing carefully for the worst.

Assynt Mountain Rescue Team were joined in the search by an HM Coastguard helicopter after the alarm was raised this morning.

With low temperatures and wintry conditions in the area between Kylesku and Merkland Lodge, the lone walker – who suffered a suspected broken leg – faced a potentially hazardous wait for help to arrive.

But an Assynt MRT spokesman said the individual’s careful and thorough preparations for their wilderness hike had helped ensure their safety before they were located.

The spokesman said: “Assynt MRT were called out this morning at 11.15 am to a lone walker with a suspected broken leg in a particularly remote spot West of Merkland Lodge.

“Alert was raised through a personal locator beacon with a short description of the injury.

“A full team deployment was instigated and, due to the location and options of severity for the injury, assistance was requested by Coastguard helicopter.

“Rescue 948 duly assisted and uplifted team members to the casualty to assist the winch paramedic with packaging and loading the casualty, who took the comfortable and fast option to hospital.”

The Assynt MRT spokesman warned that pre-trip preparations could be a matter of life and death, adding: “This walker was super well-equipped to be able to look after themself for an extended period in pretty cold conditions given winter has briefly returned to the hills.

“Always have a group shelter and extra layers to prevent things getting much worse if plans don’t go accordingly.”