British climber dies in Alps fall

Ian Jackson had been a keen climber for five years

A 19-year-old British man has plunged 160ft to his death in the French Alps.

Ian Jackson, from Guisborough near Middlesbrough, fell 49m from a rock face near Chamonix. He died on board a rescue helicopter heading to Geneva.

A French police spokesman said there had been a "big technical mistake", with Mr Jackson abseiling with one rope instead of two on Les Gaillands crag.

Mother Angela told the Evening Gazette that her son was "happy-go-lucky, very laid-back and had a very kind nature".

She added: "No matter what - he would never have stopped his climbing."

His father David told the newspaper that his son had loved climbing since the age of 14.

"We believe the accident is to do with abseiling, but we don't know the details. It wouldn't surprise me if he had tried to help others. That's what he was like."

I have no doubt that in five years' time he would have been one of the leading lights of British climbing Tom Ripley

He added: "Mountaineering was his passion. He was very popular and had loads of friends."

The family are making their way to France, and are receiving assistance from Foreign Office staff.

Climbing partner Franco Cookson paid tribute to Mr Jackson on the website UKClimbing.

"His eternal optimism and complete lack of ego will be a great loss to the climbing community," he wrote.

"Ian will be deeply missed by his family and friends."

Also on the site, fellow climber Tom Ripley wrote: "Ian was clearly very driven and I have no doubt that in five years' time he would have been one of the leading lights of British climbing."

The police spokesman said the teenager's two friends were watching from below at the time of the accident, at about 1600 local time (1500 BST).

He said "a big technical mistake" was made during the climb.

"When you abseil you must take two ropes and he only took one rope," the spokesman said.

"The helicopter came but it was too late. He fell a lot of metres. He had no chance."