Christopher Bell

Police have named three of the four young mountaineers who died yesterday in the avalanche in Glencoe.

Two were students studying for doctorates and the third was a junior doctor.

Christopher William Bell, 24, from Blackpool in Lancashire was a PhD student studying ocean mapping in Oban.

Tom Chesters, 28, lived in Leeds, West Yorkshire and was a PhD student a Hull University.

Una Rachel Finnegan, 25, from County Antrim in Northern Ireland was a junior doctor living in Edinburgh.

A Northern Constabulary spokesperson said the family of the other woman who died has requested her name be withheld until her extended family is informed of her death.

Tom Chesters

The four were in a party of six descending a gully between Stob Coire nam Beith and Bidean nam Bian when they were struck by an avalanche at about 2pm.

Two people who were in the area found one of the casualties who said there were people buried by the avalanche.

Una Finnegan

One woman is still critically ill in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow after being transferred there from Belford Hospital, Fort William.

The surviving climber issued a statement today: “On Saturday, five of my friends and I were descending a mountain in Glencoe named Stob Coire nam Beith in an area known as Church Door Buttress when the party was swept away by a snow avalanche.

“It is with much sadness and deep regret that some of my friends have died as a result.

“All in the group loved the mountains and are experienced winter walkers.

“My sincere thanks go to the members of the public, mountain rescue teams and other emergency services who assisted.”

He asked that he and the families of the four walkers killed in the incident are allowed privacy at their difficult time.