Scotland's busiest mountain rescue team dealt with nine fatalities this year as more people took to the hills with the end of the coronavirus lockdown.
In just one five-day period in early March, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team - which covers the UK's highest peak Ben Nevis - had 12 callouts and recovered 26 casualties.
Unfortunately three of these shouts resulted in deaths. Among those who lost their lives this year was 28-year-old Samuel Crawford from Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, who plunged 1000 feet to his death on Ben Nevis during a day when more than 20 other people - including a group of soldiers - needed rescuing from the 4413ft high mountain.
Devout Christian Mr Crawford had been married just 18 months and his wife was expecting their first child. Other notable rescues included volunteers who went to help a tired diabetic struggling in darkness on the Ben, but ended up rescuing a shocking seven people - all without a single head torch between them.
Rising temperatures also almost certainly saved the lives of two climbers who plunged more than 1300 feet on the UK's highest mountain.
For the pair landed in soft snow on Ben Nevis where only days earlier there was potentially fatal hardened ice. But the two climbers - one of whom walked away unscathed - were described by rescuers as "very lucky".
They were roped together when they both plunged in Green Gully. Though one of the men miraculously escaped with few injuries, the other received multiple broken bones.
However Donald Paterson, deputy team leader of Lochaber MRT, said one of the most memorable rescues of the year came in August - and as rescues go it was certainly dogged.
The team were called up Ben Nevis to bring back a huge exhausted dog that refused to budge in the heat. Maggie, a 35kg Turkish Akbash dog, had sore paws and refused to go further when the trio of walkers she was with began their trek back down Ben Nevis.
The three women from the North of England attempted to carry her but had to admit defeat on the mountain. Lochaber Mountain Rescue got the pet back by 1am, after a day that saw four other callouts.
Mr Paterson said: "It was certainly an unusual rescue. The dog had given up and the ladies were struggling to help it down. It had a few cuts to its paws, but I think with the heat and soreness it decided it wasn't going any further."
A stretcher party, complete with a casualty carer and chicken stick treats, was dispatched to assist Maggie, who was four years old.
The women managed to carry her halfway down Ben Nevis where they met the team. Maggie was secured to the stretcher and transported the rest of the way by the team in the dark.
"The owners were struggling and would certainly have been up there all night if they didn't get any assistance," said Mr Paterson.
"I did not expect the team to go out for an animal, but they insisted. They were super keen. We had a greyhound that had fallen down a gorge on Ben Nevis a few years ago, but this certainly takes the biscuit - or rather the Bonio.
"People have to be prepared for the conditions - which can change quickly on the Ben - and that goes for pets as well."
The team dealt with 112 emergencies last year. In 2020, they only dealt with around 80 rescues, reflecting periods of travel-restrictive lockdown. Ben Nevis usually attracts 160,000 people-a-year.
"The fatalities were particularly tragic and poignant and we send our condolences again to their families and friends," said Mr Paterson. "We are back to pre-pandemic numbers of rescues and the numbers are right up there with our highest totals.
"Most were to Ben Nevis and most are to people who are coming down and are tired and suffer minor falls etc. In fact most calls outs to the Ben are to half way down and below. People can underestimate how tiring the walk is.
"It was the usual slips and trips most of the time, but a lot of ankle injuries this year. Some people were well prepared and just unlucky - others were not. There was poor footwear and other inappropriate equipment used by some."
The team now have four drones and trained operators, which is becoming a vital tool in mountain rescue.
ends
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
Distraught Scots mum finds daughter dead in bathroom two weeks before Christmas
Dad who took his own life days before Christmas after benefits stopped left granddaughter gift
Ryanair leave Scots teen 'sleeping on airport floor' after flight cancellation
Scots teacher caught lying in job interview after boss asked for reference
