Bristol University student dies after Ben Nevis fall on New Year's Day

A female climber has died after falling around 500ft from a mountain on New Year’s Day.

The Bristol University student was climbing with three others on Ben Nevis when she plunged to her death.

It is the second death on Britain’s highest peak in recent weeks.

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

John Stevenson, from Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said in the latest incident, the woman and her friends had been climbing what is known as the "ledge route".

He said: "I think the rocks would have been pretty icy. It was a big fall."

The team received an emergency call at around 10.30am on Tuesday.

Mr Stevenson said: "We had to get the other three off the mountain – they were stuck.

"The weather cleared and the helicopter managed to get in and airlift them.

"The woman was located, she hadn’t survived."

A statement posted on the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team Facebook page 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."

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm that on 1 January 2019 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."

They added: "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."