Ben Nevis climber dies after falling from 1,000ft, 17 people rescued

A man has been killed after falling nearly 1,000ft while climbing Ben Nevis in ‘wild’ conditions.

Two others are in hospital after rescue teams raced up Scotland’s highest mountain to help 17 people from the summit yesterday afternoon.

Police confirmed a 28-year-old man was killed after falling from nearly 1,000 feet.

Two others, aged 27 and 29, were treated for minor injuries after being taken to hospital.

Others from an army group believed to be from the Edinburgh area were also involved in the rescue mission.

A total of 17 people — including the dozen military personnel — were either flown down the 4,413-foot mountain by Coast Guard search and rescue helicopters or left the hill by some of the nearly 40 rescuers who rushed to their aid.

Members of the Lochaber and Glencoe mountain rescue teams were taken to Ben Nevis along with police after the alarm went off around 2.15pm on Tuesday.

Donald Paterson, the Lochaber team’s deputy team leader, said the conditions on the mountain were “classic alpine – spring-like in the gorge but above the snow line everything is solid and an ice ax and crampons are essential and knowing how to use them” .

He said: “This guy had a conservative fall about 300 meters.

“Then others came to help him and they got into trouble too.

“One had a broken ankle and another had multiple abrasions. Conditions worsened as the night progressed.

“Members of the party could have been better prepared for the conditions.

“We would like to extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”

The eight-hour operation was sparked after the man fell to his death at Red Burn on the west side of the mountain.

He and his group, not members of the armed forces, had descended from Ben Nevis after reaching the summit.

Glencoe MRT assistant team leader Brian Bathurst described the conditions as “wild”.

“The snowfields are covered in ice and are quite deadly,” he said.

“One slip and you will go far.

“The conditions last night were very difficult – there was very strong wind and rain next to the ice. The helicopters did a great job.”

“WILD” CONDITIONS

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At around 2.15pm on Tuesday 8 March, police were made aware of the concern of a number of people in distress in Ben Nevis.

“Rescue services and mountain rescue colleagues were on site to help 17 people off the mountain.

“We can confirm that a 28-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other men, aged 29 and 27, were treated at hospital for minor injuries.

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a full report will be submitted to prosecutors.”

The death was the third death in the Highlands in less than a week.

An army spokesman said: “A small number of soldiers were assisting stranded hikers on Ben Nevis on Tuesday.

“They supported the group until rescue and mountain rescue could reach them.”

They confirmed that two soldiers sustained minor injuries during the descent and were later treated at the hospital.

This story originally appeared on The sun and is reproduced here with permission.