Mr Edwards fell in the Fisherfield Forest. Photo: Alan Reid CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain rescuer has died of his injuries after falling in a remote mountain area of the Highlands.

James Edwards, a member of Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, fell while walking in the Fisherfield Forest at the weekend.

Volunteers from his own team were joined by colleagues from Torridon MRT in the rescue operation in atrocious weather.

The Dundonnell team requested the help of a helicopter but weather conditions meant the aircraft could not get close, leaving the mountain rescuers with a six-hour walk carrying stretcher and medical kit to reach Mr Edwards.

After the fallen walker was found, the Inverness Coastguard helicopter was able to approach the site in difficult flying conditions and airlift him from Fisherfield.

A Dundonnell team spokesperson said: “The walker we rescued last Saturday morning has very sadly died of his injuries.

“This was an immensely difficult rescue for us as a team as the casualty was a fellow team member, James Edwards. We are all completely numbed by this outcome.

“Our thoughts, love and support are with his wife Tanya and their two little boys.

“We are grateful for the additional assistance rendered last Saturday by our colleagues in neighbouring team, Torridon MRT, and the crew of HM Coastguard helicopter Rescue 948.”

The Fisherfield Forest is a wilderness area of north-west Scotland bounded by An Teallach to the North and Slioch to the South.