The woman was injured in an avalanche in Coire Leis

A woman has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after being caught in an avalanche and falling 1,000ft and a man was also injured after falling up to 100ft in a separate incident.

The woman climber was avalanched in Coire Leis on Ben Nevis and the man fell near Kinlochleven while hillwalking.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was called out this afternoon after police received a call about the Ben Nevis incident about 1.10pm. The woman climber received serious head injuries but another man caught in the avalanche was described by rescuers as ‘walking wounded’ despite also falling 300m.

A Royal Navy Sea King search and rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire flew to the scene above the CIC Hut and below the Carn Mòr Dearg Arête and airlifted the woman to Belford Hospital in Fort William.

Today’s forecast from the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service put the risk in the area as moderate, but with localised areas having considerable risk, meaning human-triggered avalanches are likely.

The HMS Gannet aircraft also flew to the scene south of Ben Nevis where the walker had fallen between 20m and 30m.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team went to his aid after police received an emergency call about 3.25pm today.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The injured man, who was conscious and breathing, was flown to a waiting ambulance and subsequently taken to Belford Hospital.”