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A climber plummeted more than 1,500 feet down a mountain during icy conditions – then ran four miles to find help.
Callum Laird lost his footing on Goat Fell on Arran whilst training for an ultramarathon.
The 25-year-old managed to break his fall by clinging to rocks, eventually dropping onto a grassy marsh.
After struggling over a river and through a marsh to find the trail back, Mr Laird ran four miles to seek help, despite suffering from a chipped ankle and leaving a trail of blood from a wound on his leg.
He was treated at Arran War Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock the following day.
The incident happened last Saturday as Mr Laird was preparing for the Trans Gran Canaria ultramarathon.
Mr Laird, of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, said: ‘I fell from the peak of North Goat Fell, falling and sliding down more than 1,500ft.
‘It has been a miracle that I have fallen without any breaks or death. The only damage is superficial burns, a chipped ankle and a damaged shin.
Arran, off Scotland's west coast, is dominated by the 2,866ft mountain Goat Fell
Callum Laird fell 1,500ft while training on Goat Fell - but managed to run four miles to find help
‘Once I made sure I had no break I got up and ran three or four miles down Glen Rosa before meeting a woman who I need to track down and thank.
She really saved my life. I was in shock, close to hypothermia, when she rushed me into her car and took me to Arran hospital.’
He said he began to ‘free fall’ off the mountain after slipping and ended up dangling from a rock trying to find his phone to contact mountain rescue.
However, he was unable to do so and was left with only one way out – to choose the softest landing available on a grassy marsh around 800ft below, breaking his fall by clutching at rocks.
He decided that his condition would only worsen if he waited there to be found so decided to try to make his own way back.
After crossing a river and a marsh, he began running until he met another walker.
He told the BBC: ‘I could feel my right ankle starting to seize up but I kept going. I met this woman on the trail, and it turned out her husband is a doctor with the mountain rescue team.
Mr Laird suffered superficial burns, a chipped ankle and injured shin after he fell in wintry conditions
‘She was with her daughter and they gave me a cup of tea and wrapped me in blankets – they told me I looked like I was going to die.’ In shock, he tried to tell the woman he was going to get on the ferry and head home, despite being at risk of hypothermia.
He added: ‘The woman was determined I wasn’t, and that I’d go to hospital, and when I got to the car I looked behind and saw this trail of blood behind me.’
The woman later identified herself on Facebook as Lynda Fenton, who told him: ‘Glad you’re on the mend.’
He replied: This is one hell of a true hero. She truly saved my life out there.’ Goat Fell is the highest point on Arran, at 2,871ft. It is notorious for its steep, rocky terrain and treacherous, icy conditions, particularly on the Stacach Ridge.
Mr Laird has now warned others not to walk or run on mountains alone. He said: ‘You should always go with somebody or make sure there is someone that knows your route. I can’t believe I’m still alive, to be honest.’
Mr Laird still hopes to take part in the Trans Gran Canaria ultramarathon next month.