The woman is winched into the Coastguard helicopter. Image: MCA

Coastguard rescuers have praised ‘unsung heroes’ who helped a woman who fell 100ft on a munro in Glen Affric.

The Stornoway Coastguard helicopter crew flew to the scene on Mullach Fraoch-Choire to winch the injured climber to safety.

A spokesperson said the woman was on the road to recovery after the incident on the 1,102m (3,615ft) peak in the Highlands. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency released dramatic footage showing its winchman Norman MacLeod plucking the woman from the crags.

Commenting after the incident Mr MacLeod said that the climber was extremely lucky that a passing off-duty doctor had witnessed the fall and had managed to reach her and her husband, who had also climbed down to her to help administer first aid.

He said: “They are both unsung heroes and had done a wonderful job to help make her comfortable at great risk to themselves as they were perched on a precarious 400ft drop and in danger of falling further.

“We understand she is on the road to recovery which is great news for us to hear.”

After airlifting the woman from the mountain, Captain Peter Richardson and his co-pilot Marc Grant flew her to the Belford Hospital in Fort William and were met by the Fort William Coastguard. Winch operator Dylan Burns was the fourth crew member on the rescue.

The Coastguard spokesperson said: “Remember to call 999 and ask for the police and mountain rescue if you get into trouble on the hills.”

Stornoway Coastguard, search and rescue helicopter service celebrated its 30th anniversary this week.