A remote west coast island has been at the epicentre of a major search operation as efforts to track down a missing hillwalker continue.
But today there are no land searches planned in the hunt for Mary Molloy who was last seen five days ago.
The 68-year-old was last seen walking in the area between Trollabhal’ and ‘Bealack an Fhuarain’ on the Isle of Rum at around 2.30pm on Saturday.
At around 6.30pm that evening, she made contact with her family.
Sadly, she has not been heard from since.
It is unclear where Mary was at the time of her call, but officers believe she may have attempted to make her way back to the Dibidil area before becoming disorientated.
Mary’s daughter Kelly took to social media appealing for help, fearing her mum had suffered an accident while out walking.
She wrote: “Emergency please share. My mum has had an accident on the Isle of Rum and we cannot locate her.”
Rescue teams flown or taken by boat to search Isle of Rum
With concerns growing for her welfare, land, sea and air searches have been carried out around the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides.
Rescue teams have faced challenging conditions on the west coast islet, with personnel flown in by helicopter or transported by boat.
A search party comprising of coastguard teams, mountain rescue teams, police officers and dog units combed the remote island on foot.
Meanwhile, HM Coastguards search and rescue helicopters alongside the RNLI lifeboat from Mallaig searched the surrounding coastline.
Despite their efforts, Mary remains unaccounted for.
Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) have today revealed details surrounding the challenging conditions and terrain teams have been enduring amidst the operation.
In a statement, posted on Facebook, they wrote: “Search efforts have continued this week for missing hill walker Mary Molloy on the Isle of Rum.
Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, Police Scotland Highland & Islands and Search and Rescue Dog Association (Scotland) were deployed on the island by boat.
“Amid some testing weather, team members were dropped by helicopter into difficult terrain with the assistance of Coastguard Rescue 151 from Inverness.”
Mountaineers are encouraging anyone with information to get in touch.
They added: “A huge thank you to all involved in the continued search for Mary and we’d ask that anyone with any information please get in touch with Police Scotland.
A spokesman from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) added: “HM Coastguard has supported Police Scotland in the search for a missing woman on the Isle of Rum.
HM Coastguard sent search and rescue helicopters and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Fort William, Kilchoan, Salen and Mallaig. The RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat from Mallaig has also assisted.”
Search efforts on Isle of Rum stood down
Today, land searches have been called off.
Police have confirmed Mary remains missing with enquiries ongoing to trace her.
In a previous statement, Inspector Graham Brown said: “Mary is a keen hillwalker but from what we’ve been told she may have become disorientated and failed to follow her planned route.
“We have specialist resources, including mountain rescue teams, helicopters and search dogs, in the area but we also need the public’s help with information.
“I’d appeal to anyone who was on Rum yesterday and thinks they may have seen someone matching her description to come forward. Also, anyone who may have known Mary’s intended route or areas she was keen to visit it urged to get in contact with us.”
Mary is described as around 5ft 8in tall, of average build with long grey hair. When she was last seen she was wearing a turquoise waterproof jacket, red trousers, brown walking boots, blue hat and red gloves. She was also carrying a grey rucksack.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact officers on 101 quoting reference 3149 of May 25.
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