Glencoe Avalanche: Rescue Teams Find Body

Police searching for a skier missing after an avalanche struck near Glencoe in Scotland have found a body.

Daniel Maddox, from Clackmannanshire, was skiing in an off-piste area behind Glencoe Ski Centre with his friend when the avalanche struck at about 1pm yesterday.

The 41-year-old, who was said to be an experienced skier, was swept away and buried under the snow.

John Grieve, leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, said Mr Maddox was found under about 13ft of snow and ice.

"We are quite lucky to have found him actually," he said. "We were digging through a mixture of snow, ice and stones that had come down so it was quite hard going."

He said the teams had to dig trenches in order to find the skier, as the avalanche had travelled about 1,000ft into a gully and was up to 40ft deep in some places.

"We ended up with about 50 people out there today, with the assistance of two walkers who helped us when we were digging the trenches.

"Two other skiers - who had actually been caught up in another avalanche in the same place a couple of years ago and survived - also came to help with the search, as well as the RAF Mountain Rescue Team from Lossiemouth."

About 30 people from Glencoe and Lochaber mountain rescue teams, police, the mountain resort's ski patrol and a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth all helped with the operation in the Etive Glades.

John Grieve, leader of Glencoe Mountain Team, said the avalanche travelled about 1,000ft down the rocky face of the slope.

"The avalanche has actually gone into a gully, and in some places the snow is about 40ft deep," he said.

"It's not like a normal ski slope where it is mainly smooth and straight. There are a lot of rocks around and it is more dangerous."

The missing skier's friend was not thought to have been hurt in the incident.