A 22-year-old climber died on Saturday in a fall from Scotland’s highest mountain. His climbing partner, 30, is in the hospital with significant but not life-threatening injuries. Both men are believed to hail from England.
A rescue and a tragedy
Around 5 pm on Saturday evening, Police Scotland received reports of two injured climbers below the Moonlight Gully, a popular beginner’s ski route.
Late Saturday night, the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) located one injured but alive climber who had managed to move downhill. They evacuated him to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Strong winds and snow then forced them to pause the search.
The next morning, they found the body of the second climber, who was deceased. Scottish police have not disclosed the cause of death nor released the names of either climber. The families, however, have been notified.
Both men fell about 60 meters during the accident.
Ben Nevis on Friday. By Saturday, sections of the surrounding trails had been closed due to rain. Photo: Nicole Watts
Fickle weather
At 1,345m, Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in the UK and draws more than 125,000 visitors per year, according to Scotland’s tourist board. The weather around Ben Nevis last week alternated between sun and rain. On Saturday, heavy storms caused the closure of surrounding trails due to flooding. Snow was also falling.
This kind of weather is typical in the Highlands. It impedes rescue efforts and has led to deaths before. More than 100 people have died on the mountain since records started in 1849.
The UK’s busiest mountain rescue team
This was the fourth rescue for the LMRT this week. The number of rescues rises every year as more tourists flock to the Highlands and to Ben Nevis in particular.
“As an entirely voluntary team, responding to calls and attending training is a huge demand on time, and it is unnerving to see these numbers rise so quickly,” said the LMRT website. “Taking the lead in a team like this requires extraordinary fortitude, resilience, and a remarkable ability to survive on little sleep and lots of chocolate bars.”
You can donate to the LMRT here.
The LMRT is on call 24/7, every day of the year. Photo: LMRT
