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Walker: I thought I had just a 50-50 chance of survival

By Bethan Sexton

A HILLWALKER who survived overnight in sub-zero conditions and winds of more than 100mph in the Cairngorms has told how she feared she would die or lose limbs to frostbite.

Justina Kolberg, 32, had set off to climb 4,295ft Ben Macdui, the UK’s second-highest mountain. But she got lost after turning back near the summit because of the gales.

Battling -15C wind chill, the Edinburgh coffee shop owner decided to take refuge at a bivouac spot under a rock known as the Shelter Stone at the head of Loch Avon.

She used tarpaulins which had been left there for added protection.

Miss Kolberg, an Estonian national, said: ‘I thought there was a 50-50 chance of not surviving the night, or at least losing parts of my body to frostbite. I was grateful to the extra layers I brought and the tarps I found in the shelter.’

She said her ‘harrowing’ ordeal followed a mistake reading the map on her trip on Wednesday. ‘I made a decision to descend to Loch Avon and take shelter at the Shelter Stone, as I knew I couldn’t walk back with the wind speeds,’ she said. ‘I continued the route next morning by ascending to the Cairngorm plateau and headed back towards the base.

‘The rescue team found me about one hour from the destination.’

A Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team spokesman said: ‘She was caught out on the high Cairngorm plateau in darkness and winds in excess of 100mph. She made a good decision to lose height and seek shelter for the night.’

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2022-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

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