Scottish Hikers Rescue Spaniel After Night on 3,000-Foot Peak

A brave little spaniel named Aggie got a second chance at life after spending a terrifying night trapped 3,000 feet up a Scottish mountain.

The drama unfolded on Fionn Bheinn in the Scottish Highlands near Achnasheen when four hikers and their five dogs were approaching the summit. All five dogs suddenly fell through a cornice, a dangerous buildup of snow that overhangs cliff edges like an icy ledge.

The hikers sprang into action and managed to pull four dogs to safety. But Aggie, a five-year-old spaniel, had vanished into a hollow below the summit and couldn't be found in the fading light.

Her owner refused to give up. The next morning, the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team assembled with Aggie's owner and a local deer stalker to mount a proper search and rescue operation.

The team didn't waste time once they reached the spot where Aggie had disappeared. They lowered a rescuer on a rope down into the snowy hollow where the spaniel had spent the night in freezing conditions.

Aggie was overjoyed to see her rescuer. Despite enduring frigid temperatures at such a high altitude, she emerged from her ordeal unharmed and tail-wagging.

Sunny's Take

This heartwarming rescue shows how far people will go for their four-legged family members. A full mountain rescue team rallied together for one scared dog, treating her life with the same urgency they'd give any human in distress. Aggie's owner never stopped believing she could be found, and that faith paid off when rescuers pulled her to safety.

Team leader Iain Nesbitt used the incident as a teaching moment, reminding hikers about the hidden dangers of cornices. These snow formations build up in strong winds and can be nearly impossible to spot until it's too late.

The rescue reminds us that courage comes in many forms, and sometimes the bravest act is asking for help when someone you love is in trouble.