An experienced hillwalker spent more than 24 hours stuck on a cliff edge above a Highland loch before being rescued.

The 72-year-old man became stranded and was “unable to go forward or back” in the Kinloch Hourn area at Loch Hourn on Sunday afternoon.

The area is widely regarded as one of the most inaccessible wildernesses in the UK.

Due to the remote location and lack of mobile signal, the pensioner was unable to contact the Coastguard until Monday.

Kyle RNLI lifeboat crew set sail at around 1.20pm after the alarm was raised. The rescue operation, involving members of Glenelg Mountain Rescue Team, lasted more than six hours.

At one point the man spotted the rescue team, but they were too far away for him to signal to the crew.

The rescuers, who had to head back out of the loch to re-establish communications with the Coastguard, eventually found the man on a small ledge just above the waterline at 7pm. He was reunited with his family in Kyle of Lochalsh around 30 minutes later.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
Kyle RNLI rescue dog stranded on rock in the Scottish Highlands

A Kyle RNLI spokesman said: “This gentleman is an experienced walker who had unfortunately become trapped in an impossible situation, unable to go forward or back.

“Due to the location, he had no mobile signal from the time he had become trapped until Monday lunchtime, when he noticed he had a very weak one.

“He was then able to get in touch with the emergency services who launched a search and rescue operation.

“We regularly train with other rescue agencies and by working well with everyone involved, we were able to return him back to his family safely.”

Related posts:

Police continue Epping Forest search 12 days after student Richard Okorogheye disappeared COVID rates in England continue to fall across most regions and ages – apart from 5 to 9s Fishmongers’ Hall killer ‘told off’ by Abu Hamza for calling non-believers ‘dirty’, inquest told Delta infections produce similar virus levels regardless of vaccination, analysis suggests PM refuses to rule out more tax rises ahead of next election as he defends National Insurance hike Booster jabs may not be needed for everyone and widespread rollout could put pressure on NHS, says AZ boss New COVID vaccine gets regulatory approval in UK Hospital waiting lists in England hit new high of 6.2 million ‘A massive step forward’: Jack Grealish praises Jake Daniels’ ‘courage’ in revealing his sexuality ‘Pure evil’ man jailed for murder of teenager who rejected sexual advances Prince Harry hopes to ‘share the spirit of Diana’ with his children Fresh CO2 shortage fears as surging energy costs force factory shutdown