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Avalanche: Second RAF Victim Is Named

Avalanche: Second RAF Victim Is Named

The second of three people killed in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands on Thursday has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps, 32, originally from Dulverton, Somerset, was killed in the incident in the Cairngorms.

Police identified the first victim as RAF Squadron leader Rimon Than, 33, who was based at RAF Valley in North Wales.

The three were airlifted from the Chalamain Gap area of the Cairngorms to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary shortly after 12.30pm on Thursday.

An MoD spokesman said: "The MoD can confirm that two RAF personnel were killed following an avalanche in the Cairngorms.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives. Next of kin have been informed.

"We would ask the media to respect the privacy of the families concerned at this difficult time."

The avalanche struck as two groups of six climbers made their way up opposite sides of a gorge.

One group was part of an organised winter skills training course, while the second was off-duty RAF personnel.

It is the third serious avalanche in Scotland this year.

Four people in their twenties died after they were caught up in an avalanche in Glencoe on January 19.

Two weeks ago three men survived being swept 150 metres by snow in the Coire ant-Sneachda area of the Cairngorms.

The men, who were wearing helmets, were airlifted to hospital while their fellow climber suffering two broken ankles.

Other accidents in the region have caused further fatalities. Earlier this week, a hillwalker died during an expedition with a mountaineering club in Cairngorms.

Graham Connell, 31, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, was found dead in the Jacob's Ladder area on Monday, following a large-scale search for him and five other people who were reported overdue on Sunday afternoon.

On January 26, 22-year-old Ben St Joseph, from Essex, died after falling about 100 metres from Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis.