Engaged former Royal Marine dies in climbing accident in French Alps

A former Royal Marine who was recently engaged has been killed in a climbing accident in the French Alps.

Duncan Potts, 28, died on Wednesday as he climbed the Dent du Geant mountain in the Mont Blanc range near Chamonix.

He was with his friend, Luke Stevens, when a rock came loose in his hand and he fell around three metres.

Despite a mountain rescue team reaching him after Mr Stevens called for help, Mr Potts died at the scene.

The rock, which was "as big as a car boot", hit him in the head, according to rescuer Commandant Stephane Bozon.

Mr Potts, from Coldridge in Devon, was an experienced rock climber and mountaineer, and recently left the Marines and got engaged.

His sister, Izzie Potts, wrote: "All our hearts are well and truly broken without you, Duncan."

The Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance to his family.