Man dies in Nevis plunge

Wintery conditions make Ben Nevis hazardous

A man has died while climbing Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, in the Scottish Highlands.

The man, whose name has not been released, was only 300 metres from the summit when he fell a considerable distance to his death.

He was among a party abseiling on the 2,000-ft North East Buttress.

The group was traversing between the Observatory Ridge and the Carn Mor Dearg Arete when the accident happened.

One of the party alerted emergency services by mobile phone at about 1345GMT.

A Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick and the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team found the dead man.

Police from the Northern Constabulary said the body had been airlifted off the mountain.

The mountain rescue team said conditions were poor, and that climbers should be prepared for wintry conditions.