Squadron Leader Rimon Than

A serving RAF officer has been named as one of the men who died in the Cairngorms avalanche yesterday.

Squadron Leader Rimon Than, 33, was based at RAF Valley on Anglesey.

He was one of three climbers who lost their lives in the incident in the Chalamain Gap, near Cairn Gorm.

Northern Constabulary said he was one of two groups of climbers in the gorge when the avalanche struck about 12.30pm.

A police spokesperson said: “It is now known that there were two groups of climbers in the area at the time on opposite sides of the gorge.

“One group was part of a Glenmore Lodge-organised winter skills training course and the second was a separate group comprising off-duty RAF personnel who were climbing in the area.

“At around 12:30pm an avalanche occurred in the area and three people, two from the RAF and one from the Glenmore team were caught up in the avalanche.

“The search got underway very quickly and mountain rescue teams from Cairngorm, Glenmore and Lossiemouth were joined by Sarda Dogs Scotland, Lake District Sarda Dogs training in the area, members of Cairngorm Mountain Ski Patrol and rescue helicopters 137 and 138.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service’s air ambulance was also in attendance.

“Once the casualties were located they were all airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where they were sadly pronounced dead.”

The spokesperson said inquiries into the incident are continuing.

Area Inspector Murdoch MacLeod said: “Clearly this is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are currently with the families of those who have lost their lives.

“It is important that we pay tribute to work of the rescuers who responded extremely quickly to the incident and located all three climbers in a short space of time.

“All three were airlifted to Aberdeen, but sadly they died as a result of their injuries.”

Police said all immediate next-of-kin have been identified. “However, at this time the families of the remaining victims have asked for some time to inform other friends and relatives, therefore no other details of those involved can be released,” the spokesperson said.

Squadron Leader Than was an experienced mountaineer and last year took part in a Royal Air Force Mountaineering Association expedition to Sichuan, China. He held the Mountain Instructor Award, Winter and Summer Mountain Leader Awards and the Single Pitch Award and was a member of the Association of Mountain Instructors.

Reports have been submitted to the procurator fiscal.