The RAF has also sent a Sea King helicopter, with a military mountain rescue team on board, from Anglesey in Wales to assist the rescue operation.

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Iain Anderson, the commission's supervisor in Scotland, was guided to the crash site last year by David "Heavy" Whalley, a former RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue team leader.

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Police, Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team and a helicopter crew from RAF Lossiemouth were alerted to the fallen climber at about 14:20 on Sunday.

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Gwyn Roberts, of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, said it was a recognised route, but treacherous.

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Mark Jones, deputy team leader at Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, said, following a rescue in the Beacons earlier this month, that plans to downgrade the Chivenor operation should be reconsidered.

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The five, who were unhurt, were located on a hill near Carn Tarsuinn in the Cairngorms by Braemar Mountain Rescue Team at about 12:10.

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After a four-hour search in mist and darkness by Killin Mountain Rescue Team, the man was found several kilometres south of Beinn Each.

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Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team said someone had seen the man fall a long distance, while the stranded pair had been "on a summer walking route".

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During the 10-and-a-half hour operation the men were carried to safety by Brecon Mountain Rescue Team before the weather improved enough for them to be airlifted to hospital.

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Mr Roberts said his team and the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team would find themselves being called out more often in cases where a flight from Humberside would take too long.

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