An emergency operation was launched tonight after two hill walkers became stranded on the Orkney island of Hoy.
A search and rescue helicopter, the Stromness lifeboat, and a full rescue team were dispatched by Shetland coastguard after the pair became “disorientated”.
The walkers contacted the owner of a bed and breakfast they were staying at, who was able to alert the emergency services at about 6.10pm.
Following an hour-and-a-half search, the walkers were eventually located on the north-western side of the island, suffering from mild hypothermia.
A spokeswoman for Shetland coastguard said the rescuers were in constant contact with the pair during the search as they tried to describe where they were.
“We spoke to them on the phone and using our resources, for example the lifeboat, we were able to pinpoint their location,” she said.
“They were able to see the boat and from there we could judge where they were.
“By keeping in contact with them we were able to use our resources to find them, thankfully.”
The walkers were picked up at 7.35pm and flown to Kirkwall, where paramedics were waiting to take them to hospital.
The coastguard spokeswoman said the pair are expected to make a full recovery.