Man who saved climber can still smell blood from peak ordeal

● Mountaineer says he thought partner might die after he fell into crevasse

The man who saved a Scottish climber in Pakistan has described still being able to “smell the blood” from the harrowing ordeal.

Tom Livingstone, 28, was on hand to help save Scot Ally Swinton after the climber from Fife fell into a crevasse.

A mistake with his footing led to 30-year-old Ally, from Leven, falling about 20m and suffering a number of injuries while traversing Koyo Zum in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The duo had initially been part of a group of five experienced climbers, but the party has split up seven days earlier to tackle the challenging mountain from different sides.

Koyo Zom is the highest peak in the Hindu Raj mountain range in Pakistan at 6,872m.

Tom and Ally had reached a height of 5,486m together when the fall occurred.

Tom told the BBC: “I did what anyone would do and cared for him as I’m sure he would for me.

“He was covered in blood from a head wound.

“I sliced open his trousers to check his leg pain, hoping my fingers wouldn’t meet a sharp bone and soft, wet flesh. Thankfully the leg was only badly bruised.”

Tom said he recognised they were in a remote region of Pakistan and the only photo he had seen of their planned descent looked like a “gnarly, long glacier”.

He said: “I knew Ally needed more medical attention than our single bandage could provide. After a few minutes of thought, I pressed the SOS button on our satellite communicator.”

Ally stayed conscious as they waited for the helicopter rescue, but in the first afternoon Tom noticed he seemed very faint, unresponsive and weak.

He admitted: “For a time, I was genuinely concerned he might die in the night.

“It was quite an experience to spoon Ally, covered in blood, throughout the night. I can still smell the blood.

“I listened to his breathing, already irregular from the altitude, and when his breath paused for seconds... and seconds... and I’d give him a nudge, my own breath held for his next inhale.”

His condition improved by the next day and all five were then rescued by the Pakistani Army.

Tom and Ally were taken off the mountain on 30 September and Ally received the medical treatment he needed.

The pair are now home and thankful that they were rescued. Tom said, “The main thing is that we’re both safe and well and we had an amazing adventure.”