Climber survives 600ft plunge

A climber was recovering in hospital tonight after surviving a 600ft plunge down Scotland’s tallest peak.

The man suffered serious facial and rib injuries after falling and sliding down a gully on Ben Nevis, which has claimed many lives in former incidents.

He was airlifted to hospital after a four-hour search by two mountain rescue teams and a Royal Navy helicopter on the peak, near Fort William.

The climber was part of a four-man team which had divided into pairs for the ascent yesterday, police said.

He and his climbing partner had decided to camp overnight on Ben Nevis after being struck by fatigue.

But before settling down for the night the unnamed man fell 200 metres down the Five Finger Gully.

A spokesman for Northern Constabulary said: “It looks like he’s missed the zig-zag route of Ben Nevis and fallen straight into the gully.

“He’s been very fortunate to survive, there’s no doubt about that. Five Finger Gully is notorious and has claimed a good few lives down the years.”

At 8.25am today, the other two climbers raised the alarm after failing to make contact with the pair.

The entire Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was called out, helped by a Royal Navy rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet.

Members of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team joined in and both climbers were traced at 12.45pm.

The injured man was airlifted from Five Finger Gully by the helicopter to Belford Hospital, Fort William, where his condition was described as stable.