Hero rescuers battled snow and ice to reach a walker who fell and broke her leg on a Scots hillside.
More than 35 mountain rescue and firefighters were scrambled to the Pentlands, near Edinburgh, at 2pm yesterday.
A helicopter was also deployed as they battled for three hours in minus 10C temperatures to get the woman off the 1,568ft peak.
Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue team leader Dave Wright told BBC Scotland: "The casualty was well equipped for the walk she had planned.
“It was just an unfortunate slip on the top of the hill as the paths are very icy just now. In those conditions it is difficult for anyone to stay warm once they have stopped moving."
The woman slipped on the top of the steep Caerketton Hill, near the Midlothian Ski Centre.
Dramatic photos show a tent being pitched over the woman while dozens of rescuers travelled from as far as the Scottish Borders and West Lothian to bolster efforts.
Paramedics gave her painkillers on the hill side while stretchers of kit to keep her warm were dragged up the hill.
Wright added: "To lower the casualty down from that height on a stretcher would have involved a technical rig and lowering it for 50m before de-rigging and doing the process again and again. It would have taken too long.
"We practice for this type of line rescue all the time but what would have made it difficult was the icy conditions."
Police chiefs today vowed to bolster patrols in the Pentlands as walkers flock to the popular beauty spot.
There were reports of full car parks and others closed in icy conditions.
Midlothian Police posted on Facebook: "If you're in the area, please park in a designated car park as officers will be carrying out patrols to ensure people are staying safe.
"If there is nowhere safe to park then please visit another day and don’t park illegally.
"You should not obstruct any footpaths as these are designed to keep members of the public safe and prevent them from having to walk on a roadway."
