The men fell an unknown distance on Tower Ridge. Photo: Subflux CC-BY-SA-2.0

Two climbers who were seriously injured in a fall on Ben Nevis today were members of the armed forces.

The men fell from Tower Ridge on the north face of the mountain this afternoon.

One has head injuries and the other an injured leg. Police said they fell an unknown distance from the ridge, which is a challenging scramble with sections rated as Difficult or Very Difficult climbs.

A police spokesperson said: “About 1.15pm, Northern Constabulary received several reports of shouts for help on Ben Nevis. It was quickly established that two persons, both male, had fallen an unknown distance on the Tower Ridge area of Ben Nevis.

“Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team attended and, assisted by a helicopter from HMS Gannet, Prestwick, they airlifted the casualties from the mountain. They were then conveyed by ambulance to the Belford Hospital, Fort William.”

One of the men is being transferred to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, and the other to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, for further treatment.

The police spokesperson added: “As both casualties are members of the armed forces, who were on an adventure break in the area at this time, their details are not being released.”