Two hikers had to be rescued from Britain’s second highest mountain after attempting the climb in minus 15C temperatures while wearing only jogging bottoms and trainers.
The pair, both in their 20s, set off at around 6pm on Tuesday to scale the 4,295ft Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands.
Around two-and-a-half hours later, they became stranded on the mountain, with one of the hikers suffering from hypothermia.
Thirteen crew members from the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team went to their aid and found the men in a “precarious state”.
The crew said the men would not have “survived the night” with what they were wearing, had they not been rescued.
“One was suffering from hypothermia. He was in a bad way. The other was also very cold,” said crew leader Iain Cornfoot.
It comes as snow and ice are forecast across much of the UK over the first few days of 2026 with London set to freeze in even colder temperatures.
Tomorrow will see a yellow warning for snow and ice come into force across large parts of England and Wales between midnight and noon, including London and Kent up to Chester and Greater Manchester.
Snow up to 5cm deep could blanket some areas especially on higher ground in parts of North Wales and north-west England, according to forecasters.
A rare cold health alert was issued across England yesterday, warning that the icy conditions could lead to a rise in deaths.
Rescuers found the two hikers three metres apart, around 1,050 metres up the mountain, in minus 15C conditions with severe wind chill.
One was in a precarious position and risked serious injury if he had slipped, Mr Cornfoot added.
He said the pair had travelled from Edinburgh and began the climb at 6pm despite being badly equipped, lacking crampons or an ice axe.
The pair became stranded on icy, steep ground in the Goat Track area, but thankfully stopped, likely prevented a far worse outcome.
It is understood the pair did not require medical treatment.
