Climber killed in 150ft Nevis fall

A CLIMBER has died after falling 150ft on Ben Nevis.

The man, thought to be in his fifties, slipped and plunged onto rocks while ascending Tower Ridge.

Search crews were called to the north face of the mountain near Fort William, Inverness-shire, when his climbing partner raised the alarm shortly before 10.55am on Saturday.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue confirmed yesterday that the man, who has not yet been named, fell to his death while scaling 650ft Douglas Boulder. Team leader John Stevenson said: ‘There was a little bit of moisture which would have made the rocks a bit slippery.’

Coastguard crews were diverted from a training exercise to recover the casualty, who was airlifted from the ridge to Fort William following a two-hour operation.