A climber died after plunging 600ft down a mountain in the Cairngorms.
The man’s distraught companion had to run off the hills to try to get a mobile phone signal so he could raise the alarm.
Members of an RAF helicopter crew pushed their skills to the limit as they hunted for the climber, who suffered serious head injuries.
They managed to locate him in the Glen Einich area after battling turbulence, high winds, rain and mist.
But a winchman who was lowered to the ground by the crew of the RAF Lossiemouth-based Sea King helicopter discovered the student had died.
He had been climbing with a friend when he fell on Number Three Buttress, usually considered a winter ice ascent.
His companion scrambled down to his badly injured friend, who was slipping in and out of consciousness.
He had no mobile phone signal so ran off the hills to contact the emergency services.
Squadron Leader Dave Webster, Officer Commanding RAF Search and Rescue Support, at Lossiemouth, said the helicopter had to fly just below the clouds and at times they obscured the tops of the mountains.
Sqn Ldr Webster said: “The incident took place in very windy conditions, with a lot of turbulence.
“There were strong winds over the hills which were down-draughting air and turbulence on to the helicopter.
“The aircraft was operating at the limits of its performance because of that.”
He added: “It was a very complex winching operation requiring the winchman to discharge 200ft of cable. The maximum length is 245ft.
“At the bottom of the cable, he was subject to a pendulum effect.”
Sqn Ldr Webster said that the winchman found the climber dead, and his body was airlifted from the area.
Members of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue were on standby at their base at Inverdruie while the helicopter tried to reach the scene.
Later they picked up the climber’s companion from a track on Rothiemurchus Estate.
Willie Anderson, leader of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, said that the young man was in shock.
He had also fallen on his way down the slope and suffered a hand injury. He was taken to Aviemore Health Centre for treatment.
It is understood that the two men are from England.
Mr Anderson said that the pair were “blameless” in the incident and that he planned to write to the young survivor telling him that.
He also praised the RAF crew for their efforts in “hairy” weather.
He said: “What they can do in one hour would have taken us eight.
“I feel so sorry for the young guy.
“He was blameless, it was just one of those unfortunate events.”
Mr Anderson said: “Glen Einich is not a popular climbing area in summer. Some climbers do go there during winter when the rocks freeze up.”
A police spokesman said: “Police received a call at approximately 12.43pm regarding a fall in the Cairngorms.
“RAF Rescue 137 assisted along with members of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team. The man sadly died as a result of his injuries.
“The man will not be identified until all next of kin have been informed and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
It was the third call-out for the Cairngorm team in a week.
They helped a birdwatcher who broke his leg in Glenfeshie on Thursday night and a few days earlier a female mountain biker who suffered a shoulder injury on the Monadhliath Mountains.