Tragedy as young Ben Nevis climber dies after plunging 200ft down mountain

A CLIMBER has died after falling over 200 feet on Ben Nevis.

The man, in his 20s, was with a climbing companion of about the same age when they both fell on the UK's highest mountain.

The pair were in Moonlight Gully on Saturday when they plunged in “challenging weather conditions”;.

Around 20 members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team were scrambled after the alarm was raised at about 5pm.

Team leader Iain Murray said the climbers – both from England – were over 3,000 feet up on the 4,413 feet high mountain.

He said: “The climber who survived is very lucky. It is very hazardous terrain and he must have struck the rocky ground on his way down. He had serious injuries.

“He fell a significant distance – as did his companion – over 200 feet.

“Sadly his friend did not survive and we wish to pass on our condolences to his family and friends.

“We managed to treat and package the injured man and carry him to a point where the Inverness-based coastguard helicopter could airlift him to hospital.

“We then returned later and also recovered his companion’s body for the helicopter to airlift at around 1.30pm on Sunday. We returned to base around 3.30pm.

“It was very hazardous conditions with strong winds and rain and the team did a great job. The ground where the climbers fell was particularly challenging given the conditions. It is a winter climbing route.”

The injured climber was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. His condition is unknown.

Less than four hours later, the team were out again to a walker who suffered a panic attack on nearby Aonach Mor.

Three team members helped him to safety where a coastguard helicopter airlifted him to Fort William.

Over the past seven days, the team has been out four times attending incidents in Lochaber.