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Scotland: Lasers aimed at climbers, rescuers on UK's highest mountain
26 Sep 2014 -- Categories: Non-aviation incidents
The leader of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was on an after-dark rescue early in September 2014, when “quite a powerful laser” was aimed at them.
The team was on Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the U.K. They were wearing head torches, so their light would be easy to see from lower altitudes.
Team leader John Stevenson estimated that the beam came from Glen Nevis, a couple of miles away. He told the Press and Journal that the green beam “could easily have caused someone to lose their balance causing them to fall and possibly injure themselves. Luckily it did not affect our rescue, but it goes without saying that it is an extremely dangerous thing to do.”
Stevenson said such lasings had happened before to his team, and also to another climber walking in the Ben Nevis area in mid-September.
From the Press and Journal
The team was on Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the U.K. They were wearing head torches, so their light would be easy to see from lower altitudes.
Team leader John Stevenson estimated that the beam came from Glen Nevis, a couple of miles away. He told the Press and Journal that the green beam “could easily have caused someone to lose their balance causing them to fall and possibly injure themselves. Luckily it did not affect our rescue, but it goes without saying that it is an extremely dangerous thing to do.”
Stevenson said such lasings had happened before to his team, and also to another climber walking in the Ben Nevis area in mid-September.
From the Press and Journal