14/07/2006

Cable car collision on mountain resort

A number of people have been injured during a collision between two cable cars in a mountain resort in northern Scotland yesterday.

It has been reported that one of the carriages was derailed when one gondola slid back down the cable and hit another.

It is estimated that the cable car fell about 60ft to the ground.

Inverness mountain rescue team and rescue helicopters were deployed to the Nevis Range resort near Fort William, where they removed the casualties from the scene.

It is understood that around eight people were injured during the incident, some of which are believed to be in a serious condition.

Many more were believed to have been stranded in the carriages above until mountain rescue services were able to free them.

It is not yet known if the cable cars were on the same track or travelling in opposite directions.

Rescue teams used helicopters to move those injured from the scene of the accident, at the Nevis Range resort, near Fort William.

The cable car system at Nevis is believed to be the only mountain system of its kind in Britain and was originally used to take skiers to the slopes.

However, as time progressed it was used to carry tourists up the mountain to view the Highlands from Aonach Mor.

The 1.4 mile journey takes 12 to 15 minutes, and each gondola can accommodate up to six people.

An RAF spokesman told Sky News: "First reports suggest several broken legs, head injuries, chest injuries."

(EF/SP)

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