Rocky ledge breaks climber's fall from Skye ridge

A climber has escaped serious injury in a 40m (131ft) fall while on the Cuillin Ridge in Skye.

The man was scrambling, traversing a slope using his hands and feet, when he misjudged a handhold and then tumbled down a mountainside near the peak Sgùrr nan Eag.

Skye Mountain Rescue Team said he was knocked unconscious but, "incredibly", landed on a ledge just before another long drop.

The team's volunteers helped to get him winched onboard Stornoway coastguard helicopter and he was flown to Inverness' Raigmore Hospital.

The injured man, who was scrambling with another person, needed stitches to a head wound and treatment to hand injuries.

Skye MRT said the injuries were relatively minor considering how far he fell.

Thirteen volunteers responded to Wednesday's incident was the team's first call-out of this year to the ridge.

Two climbers in the area at the time gave the man first aid, and helped to carry kit off the hill and down to Glenbrittle.

Sgùrr nan Eag is the southern most peak on the ridge, a seven mile (12km) long mountaineering route.

Last year, Skye MRT attended 78 incidents and helped 72 people.