A climber has died after a “big fall” in the Cairngorms – the sixth to lose their life on Scotland’s hills this year.
The mountaineer was in the area of Coire an t-Sneachda, close to the CairnGorm Mountain ski centre, when the accident happened.
The Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team said the climber was airlifted to hospital but their injuries were fatal.
The team added: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the climber who died after a big fall.”
Coire an t-Sneachda is considered one of the most accessible routes for winter climbing, due to its proximity to the ski area.
Friday’s tragedy happened just two days after the bodies of climbers Tim Newton, 27, and Rachel Slater, 24, were found on Ben Nevis, more than five weeks after they disappeared.
It is believed the experienced climbers were caught in an avalanche before starting a planned ascent of the mountain.
Five of the six climbers who have died this year are believed to have been involved in avalanches.
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service, which provides information on the potential snow slide risk, has recorded 153 avalanches since starting its latest forecasting season in December.
More than 40 of them were in the last month. There were 237 detected last season.
During the winter of 2012-13, eight people died because of avalanches. It was the highest number of deaths in five seasons of SAIS forecasts.
In total nine people have died on Scotland’s mountains since January, including three hillwalkers.