Three die on Ben Nevis after storm causes avalanche

THREE climbers were killed by an avalanche on Ben Nevis yesterday, following warnings not to try to ascend the mountain.

The incident, which injured one other person, happened at 11.50am yesterday in gully number five located on the mountain’s north-eastern aspect.

At 6pm on Monday night the Scottish Avalanche Information Service released a “hazardous forecast” for the north-eastern aspect of Ben Nevis, classifying the avalanche risk as “high”.

The warning said that “freezing” temperatures, heavy snowfall and strong winds linked to Storm Gareth would result in “high instability” on the mountain.

Donald Paterson, deputy team leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said the four men, believed to be Swiss nationals, had been hit by a “massive” avalanche that fell 1,500ft – a third of the mountain’s height – on to them. “It was brutal conditions,” he said. According to the Scottish Avalanche Information Service, there have been four separate avalanches on Ben Nevis in the past month.

On Saturday, around 1pm, an avalanche was reported in gully number five, resulting in two people being carried down the mountain.

A Fort William resident said he saw a group trying to access Ben Nevis, despite warning them of the poor weather conditions.

He said: “The forecasts clearly stated extreme weather. Nobody should have been on Ben Nevis and anyone who was has paid the ultimate price.”

Rescue teams were still removing the dead and injured off the mountain late yesterday afternoon.