Dog rescued after spending night on Scottish mountain following fall
Aggie is doing well after her wintry night alone.
Last updated 23 hours ago
A springer spaniel has been rescued after falling through an overhanging snow ledge and spending the night on a Highland mountain.
Four dogs got into difficulty on Sunday afternoon close to the 3,061 ft summit of Fionn Bheinn near Achnasheen, while out on a hike with four hill walkers.
While the other dogs managed to get back down safely, Aggie couldn't be found and due to night approaching the search team had to be stood down.
Yesterday, three members of the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, a deer stalker and owner Colin Gough went back out to see if they could rescue the dog.
To their amazement seven-year-old Aggie, albeit very cold, was alive and well.
A mountain rescue team volunteer was lowered by rope into the coire where she hunkered down for the night and brought her back to safety.
It's thought Aggie braved overnight temperatures of around -15 degrees celcius after falling through a cornice.
A cornice is an unstable mass of wind-drifted snow which forms along mountain ridges and edges, often resembling a wave.
Retired police officer Colin, from the Black Isle, explained how Aggie and her pooch pals are all doing well.
He said: "They're getting spoiled by my wife, I would expect nothing less.
"The outcome is a very positive one indeed.
"When we went back up to try and find Aggie, the outcome I was wanting was to find her and take her home alive and well.
"The reality being that wasn't the outcome I was expecting, but to get that outcome is absolutely amazing.
"No words I can express today will display the gratitude I've got for everybody who helped."
Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team Leader, Iain Nesbitt, explained how the current weather conditions are deceiving.
He said: "On the lower ground we've got no snow, a little bit of ice first thing in the morning, it's quite benign.
"Certainly higher up on Sunday and Monday, the temperature was well below freezing.
"With the windchill it was probably taking it down to -10 and -15."
Iain, who lives in Conon Bridge, is keen to highlight how the Mountain Rescue Team is made up entirely of volunteers.
"This is why we are here.
"We are here to assist anybody that gets into trouble.
"Whether it be on a mountain, a forest walk or anywhere where the other emergency services cannot reach you.
"We are here to make somebody's bad day better."