Climber's last 'I love You' text

Rob Gauntlett and Lucinda Hutchins were together on New Year's Eve

The girlfriend of the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest has revealed the final message she received before he fell to his death was "I love you".

Lucinda Hutchins, 21, last heard from Rob Gauntlett, from West Sussex, two days before he set off on holiday with three friends in the French Alps.

Mr Gauntlett and James Hooper became the youngest Britons to climb Everest when they were aged 19, in May 2006.

Mr Hooper, from Wellington, Somerset was one of the party in Chamonix.

He is now preparing to return to the UK after saying his last goodbyes to Mr Gauntlett and James Atkinson, who also died in the fall on Mont Blanc at the weekend.

'People who care'

Manchester University student Miss Hutchins said she and Mr Gauntlett had known each other from the age of 11.

They became partners at 16 while pupils together at Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex.

She had received a text telling her he would not be able to get a phone signal on the mountain, she said.

"I texted him back and told him to please be safe, not to push himself too hard and that there were people here who really care for him.

"He texted back, 'See you soon. I love you.' That was the last I heard from him."

She was told the news of his death in a phone call from his father, David, on Saturday night.

James Hooper (left) and Rob Gauntlett conquered Everest together

"My whole world has fallen apart... he and I were like soulmates," Miss Hutchins said.

"I have never met anyone who I have got on with so well and been so compatible with.

"Very early on in our relationship we spoke about all kinds of things for the future. We did have long term plans together."

She added that although she was always concerned about the dangers he faced on his expeditions, he was "someone who was literally following his dreams".

"His life wouldn't have been so fulfilled if he hadn't been able to go out and do these things."

'Terrible blow'

The bodies of the climbers are due to be flown home at the end of this week or the beginning of next.

Mr Atkinson was a Durham University student, who was also at Christ's Hospital School.

Headmaster at the independent school, John Franklin, said: "They were fine young men; quietly spoken, hugely determined and passionate about their climbing," he said.

"Their deaths come as a terrible blow to us all and the only faint consolation is that they died in the mountains doing what they loved best."