Ben Nevis: Student dies after falling 500ft while climbing Britain's highest mountain on New Year's Day

Woman 'stood little or no chance', rescuers say

A 22-year-old woman has died while climbing Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain (Getty Images)

A 22-year-old woman has died after falling 500ft on Ben Nevis on New Year’s Day

The Bristol University student was climbing Britain’s highest mountain with three friends when she slipped on icy rocks and plunged to her death.

She is the second student killed on the Scottish Highlands peak in less than three weeks.

Patrick Boothroyd, 21, from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, died in a fall on 16 December.

The latest death on Tuesday came as the victim, who has not been named, negotiated Carn Dearg, a popular ridge route on Ben Nevis.

John Stevenson, of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said: “I think the rocks would have been pretty icy.

“The woman had a big fall on very steep ground – around 500ft I would say.

“It is hard to say but she would have stood little or no chance.”

The team received an emergency call at around 10.30am. A rescue helicopter airlifted the woman’s friends off the mountain.

Mr Stevenson said: “They were stuck. The weather cleared and the helicopter managed to get in and airlift them.

“The woman was located, she hadn’t survived.”

Bristol University said the tragedy would be “deeply felt” by students and staff.

A spokeswoman said: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm that on 1 January one of our students died in an accident whilst on a hiking trip to Ben Nevis in Scotland.

“The student was part of a larger group of students who had organised this new year trip to the highlands.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this student. This tragic accident will be deeply felt across our university community, and we will make sure we have support available to all those affected.”

In a statement posted on Facebook, Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team said: “The team had to recover a young climber who unfortunately lost her life following an accident on Carn Dearg on Ben Nevis.

“We pass on our sincere condolences to her family and friends. A very sad start to 2019.”

Last month the team was involved in recovering the body of Mr Boothroyd, a Cardiff University student killed in a 1,600ft fall.

He suffered a fatal head inquiry when overhanging snow collapsed and swept him down the mountain as he climbed Tower Gully with a friend. The second climber was not seriously injured.