A mountain rescue leader said that “self preservation” saved a French walker who spent more than 24 hours lost in the Cuillin mountains on Skye.
Thierry Coffie was found near Loch Coruisk on Wednesday evening, a day after he set off alone for a walk in the formidable mountain range.
He had been heading for the Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh and Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh peaks but is believed to have become disorientated when descending in the An Dorus area and went in the wrong direction.
He also suffered a suspected broken wrist and rib injuries from a fall, for which he received treatment at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
He was reported missing by his wife on Tuesday after failing to return to his accommodation in Sligachan.
He was found near Loch Coruisk, having descended in entirely the wrong direction.
The 58-year-old was able to communicate with wife by text in French, giving rescuers a rough idea where he had gone.
Skye Mountain Rescue Team were dispatched that evening but were unable to find any trace of Mr Coffie.
Team leader Gerry Akroyd said that the weather conditions had been windy, coupled with sleety rain which prevented a full search from being carried out.
A further search was organised on Wednesday morning, with the Skye team supported by RAF Mountain Rescue staff from Kinloss and five search dogs.
It was one of the dog handlers who traced Mr Coffie after he was spotted by walkers in the area.
Mr Akroyd said: “I would say he was quite lucky, self-preservation kicked in for him.”
The team leader said that there was limited shelter for Mr Coffie from the cold on the exposed hillside.