Climber dies as search for Swede called off

A MAN in his 40s fell several hundred feet to his death on the MacGillycuddy Reeks, Co Kerry, yesterday.

At the time, an extensive search for a 22-year-old Swedish man, Olas Jansen, missing since last Tuesday, was underway in the area and this search was formally stood down last evening after no trace of him was found.

The man who died, meanwhile, appeared to be climbing alone, according to the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, and was seen falling from treacherous Beenkeragh Ridge, near Carrantuohill, by three other people who raised the alarm. An emergency call was received at Killarney garda station at 1.15pm and the rescue team immediately went to the scene.