A HILLWALKER has been traced safe and well after an abandoned rucksack and reports of a man in a "confused and disorientated" state sparked a major search on Britain's highest mountain.
The search started on Saturday afternoon after a group descending Ben Nevis found the rucksack in a burn by the side of the tourist path about a third of the way up.
The contents of the bag, which included large quantities of alcohol, spa
rked concerns for the mental state of its owner.
Worringly, Northern Constabulary then received two reports of a man seen in a "confused and disoriented state" on the path leading up Ben Nevis from the Glen Nevis visitor centre.
However, last night it emerged the man was eventually traced to his home in Hertfordshire. Police painstakingly worked through receipts found in the rucksack and found purchases were made at shops in Fort William, dating back to 15 March.
Using the receipts they were then able to track down the walker, who has not been identified.
Officers scoured CCTV footage of the town centre at the times given on the receipts, and contacted B&Bs in the area, where the missing walker may have been staying.
A spokeswoman for Northern Constabulary said last night: "Following inquiries from our officers the owner of the bag has been traced and is safe and well in his home in Hertfordshire."
Police had contacted Lochaber Mountain Rescue, which, helped by an RAF Kinloss helicopter and police dog handlers, conducted a thorough search of the area on Saturday afternoon.
The force had received two conflicting reports of the man in a "confused and disorientated" state on Ben Nevis. With snow showers, sub-zero temperatures and a significant wind-chill factor reported overnight, there was significant concern for the missing owner of the rucksack.
One witness placed the man in his fifties, and another reported someone much younger.
An "exhaustive search" of the area got under way on Saturday but was stood down yesterday.
Ben Nevis, which at 1,344m is the UK's highest mountain, is also one of the most popular with tourists. About 100,000 ascents are made each year.
Lochaber Mountain Rescue were deployed again yesterday when a man fell and broke his leg on Corrie An Lochan, at Aonach Mor.
The man and his companion were airlifted off the mountain shortly after 2:30pm and then taken by road to Belford Hospital, Fort William.
Meanwhile, a helicopter was scrambled to rescue a diver who fell ill at Loch Ewe, Wester Ross.
The man was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness by Stornoway coastguard after he fell ill while on a dive yesterday afternoon. It is understood that he was not suffering from the bends.
