Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team posted an emotional message on its Facebook after recovering the bodies of Tim Newton and Rachel Slater on Ben Nevis.
“While formal identification has still to take place, we expect them to be confirmed as Rachel and Tim who have been missing since 13th February,” said the team.
“I am sure that everyone will join us in offering our thoughts and sincere condolences to the families and friends of Rachel and Tim. They were well known, experienced and respected climbers and their plight has touched so many people over the last few weeks.
“We have been overwhelmed by the help and support we have received over the last few weeks as we tried to get some clues to where Rachel and Tim may have been going on the day they went missing. We would like to thank the whole climbing community for engaging and assisting, even when it was only to eliminate some of the small clues we thought we had obtained.
“Thanks also to Police Scotland, and in particular the local staff who have been able to take some of the pressure off of us arising from the immense media interest the rescue has generated, and continues. We have been supported by several other MR (Mountain Rescue) teams and SARDA (Scottish Search and Rescue Dogs Association) dogs, and it speaks volumes for all the people in the MR community who give up so much of their time on a voluntary basis to assist others.
“Finally, but not least, well done to all the members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team. The effort which has gone into this rescue has been immense in some of the most challenging conditions you could expect to experience. To quote one of the climbers who we talked to last night at the CIC hut after the recovery, ‘can I shake your hand as you are all heroes.'”