Search Efforts Underway for Missing Ben Nevis Climber
Drones have been deployed in the ongoing search for a climber reported missing in the Lochaber area last week.
Concerns were raised for Brian McGillicuddy, aged 64, after he did not return from a planned excursion to Ben Nevis on Thursday.
It is believed that McGillicuddy intended to walk to the Charles Inglis Clark (CIC) Memorial Hut on the mountain and may have been attempting the Orion Face Direct route.
Search Operations Involving Multiple Teams
Over the weekend, drone pilots from the Search and Rescue Aerial Association - Scotland joined volunteers from mountain rescue teams in conducting searches across Ben Nevis.
McGillicuddy was last observed at approximately 04:00 GMT on Thursday near Glasdrum Road in Fort William.
He is described as being 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall, of slim build, with short grey and white hair.
At the time he was last seen, he was wearing a white climbing helmet, a dark blue jacket, white jeans, and blue and red gaiters.
Police Appeal for Information
Sgt Gareth Ford commented on the search efforts:
"Extensive searches, involving specialist resources, are ongoing despite challenging conditions.
We are not sure of Brian's intended route, so I'm appealing to anyone who thinks they may have seen him, or someone matching the description, in the area on Thursday to come forward.
Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could greatly assist our search teams."
Volunteers from the Lochaber, Glencoe, Oban, Police Scotland, and RAF Lossiemouth mountain rescue teams, along with the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Scotland), have all participated in the search operations.
Additional Support in Search Efforts
A coastguard helicopter has also been involved in the search for McGillicuddy, providing aerial support to the volunteers on the ground.
