The hard winter of 1990 was a tough time for Mountain Rescue, with many fatal accidents in the Scottish hills. But one huge operation had a near-miraculous outcome. Mountain Rescue veteran David 'Heavy' Whalley recalls the story of the teenager missing alone on Ben Nevis for three days and nights. This account has been adapted from Heavy's blog.

After eight days of near-constant callouts, we at RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team were asked assist the Lochaber and Glencoe teams, the helicopters and SARDA in a search. A 17-year-old venture scout, Gary Smith, had gone missing on Ben Nevis. He was alone, and had not returned to the Youth Hostel. This was a wild winter, and the worst of weather on The Ben. The chance of a positive outcome seemed slim.

All the teams were busy; the pressure on volunteers that make the teams was huge and we had hardly been home that winter. This leaves immense impact at home and work, so when we were asked to help on Ben Nevis all the team had the chance to return home. But though we were exhausted, we all stayed. A 17 year old missing was near to us all, many of us had children. Over 120 rescuers swamped the mountain, and helicopters scoured visible areas; but conditions were extremely dangerous for all.

I was helping organise the search from Fort William Police Station with Donald Watt the Lochaber Team Leader. The family were with us and things were looking bleak. By day three we were on our last slim chance to find Gary alive.

Pete Kirkpatrick, then Team Leader of RAF Leuchars, was out on the hill, and later wrote his own account of the episode:

"Wednesday. New search areas, but no new information" he writes.

"Tired hearts and legs ascended the mountain again. No stretchers were carried. Private opinions had been voiced – bodies don't need rescuing, only finding.

this was one of the best rescues I have ever been involved in!

"My team had been tasked to search the slopes north of the main footpath above the Halfway Lochan. Difficult rocky ground to walk on let alone search in misty and sleety conditions. The area was finally reached and the separate parties began to slowly search across their 500ft portion of the mountain. I was in the top group and five minutes into the search I could see an arm waving from a red shape. A mixture of emotions and thoughts ran through me – relief, guilt, concern and professional questions on what to do next? Satisfaction would only be allowed if we got him off this mountain alive.

"He was barley conscious and soaked through to the skin and half covered in a plastic sheet torn to shreds by his crampons. He was alive – just. 

"During the next 15 minutes other party members arrived, dry kit replaced wet clothing; sleeping bags, hats and gloves eventually cocooned his body. The message of 'You've been found, but it's not over, hang on, don't give up now' was firmly implanted  – repeatedly!

"Below, beneath the mist line sat the Leuchars 22 Sqn Wessex, only 60 seconds flying time away, poised, waiting for the opportunity to snatch the casualty and save him an hour of bone jarring man handling. Suddenly the mist parted and that window of opportunity appeared. Rapid plans were made between the ground party and the helicopter. A quick in and out, a difficult winching operation, pray for the break to last – let's do it!

"The helicopter closed carefully with a constant eye on the swirling mist. The winch man descended into our welcoming arms. Strops were placed. Checks were made – thumbs up.

"GO, GO, Go – gone. Gone to live another day."

After three days of the worst weather The Ben could throw at us Gary had been located alive!

I was in the Fort William Police Station when the news came through. The family were about, joy and tears were shared by all. Cheers came over the radio from the teams involved and a massive cheer in the police station said it all. Big tough Lochaber bobbies had a tear in their eye. Words do not describe how we felt.

It was an incredible rescue, and what a result for us all. The teams all came off the hill feeling elated; Ben Nevis had shown mercy this time, Gary had hung in there and been found. It was a huge rescue attempt by all the teams and it never matters who locates the casualty - we are all part of a big team. To me this was one of the best rescues I have ever been involved in, and what rescue is all about.

We went on to many other incidents that winter, sadly with not good outcomes. We knew that Gary had recovered in hospital in Fort William, but nothing else. We all worried what his recovery would be like, after three days and nights on Ben Nevis. But rarely in those days did you get feedback on the Casualty.

Then nearly 30 years later, I received this email:

"Gary Smith is my brother and we will always be thankful for [you] not giving up on him. To say it changed things in our lives is an understatement, I am a Mountain Rescue team member in my home town, Gary was a Team Member but had to leave for work commitments, he is now a father of 5 amazing children and has helped to save many lives in his job as a Charge nurse in an A&E Department. None of this would have happened without everyone out over that week."

It was wonderful to get this news all those years on. It makes it all worthwhile.

With thanks to all, to Pete Kirkpatrick and to Davy Taylor who took those incredible photos of the team with Gary and the evacuation by helicopter.