Helicopter heroes recover climber killed in horror plunge from Ben Nevis
A CLIMBER has died after plunging 150ft on Britain’s highest mountain.
It happened on Saturday while the man, who has not been named, was scaling Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis.
Rescuers said his body was found in a “difficult location” and praised the efforts of the crew of a Coastguard helicopter sent to assist them.
The helicopter from Inverness was diverted from a training exercise and arrived at about 11.10am.
The climber was airlifted to an ambulance at the Torlundy helicopter landing site near Fort William and taken to the town’s Belford -Hospital, but was pronounced dead by a doctor there.
John Stevenson, leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said: “He had just started his ascent, about a quarter of the way up Tower Ridge – it was a classic day to climb the ridge.
We are not entirely sure what happened but it looks like he had a wee slip and fell 40 to 50 metres (131 to 164 feet). He was with a climbing partner.
We are not entirely sure what happened but it looks like he had a wee slip and fell 40 to 50 metres (131 to 164 feet). He was with a climbing partner.”
He added: “The conditions were good – there was a little bit of -moisture about, which would have made the rocks a bit slippery, but nothing any experienced climber could not handle.
“The man was at the bottom end of the Douglas Boulder, which is a steep climb and a bit narrow. He had a big fall and the doctor pronounced him dead as soon as he was seen.”
Mr Stevenson added: “A big thank you to the helicopter crew who did a fantastic job to make the recovery from a very difficult location, and all the climbers who assisted and brought down the climber’s friend.
A sad day.” The tragedy came as it emerged that a pensioner collapsed and died on the mountain while tackling the Three Peaks Challenge.
Father-of-two Anthony Parmenter, 72, suffered a massive heart attack halfway up Ben Nevis.
His widow, Beryl, described her husband as an “action man to the very end”.
The 63-year-old said: “It’s hard to believe. He was absolutely totally fit.
He was proud of the 32-inch waist that he’d had since being a boy and would cycle up to 200 miles a week.
TERRIFYING winds captured over Ben Nevis
“If he wasn’t cycling he was walking. He was lean and incredibly fit.”
The painter and decorator, from Oxfordshire, died on June 24.
The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours.