Mountaineer dies in charity climb

Mr Polden was raising funds for an outdoor activities charity

A 30-year-old mountaineer from Greater Manchester has died on a charity climb in southern Greenland.

Chris Polden, of Cheadle, was killed when a boulder hit him during a climb on Christian IV island on Wednesday.

His friend Ben Anderson hiked 3,000ft (914m) down the mountain to get help but by the time it arrived Mr Polden, a computer programmer, was dead.

It is understood that his funeral service will be held in Cornwall where he lived as a child.

Rock fall

Mr Polden, who was a member of the Manchester Climbing Centre, was part of a nine-man team scaling the mountain in pairs.

He and Mr Anderson had paid for the trip themselves as part of a fundraiser for the Get Kids Going charity which raises cash for sports wheelchairs for children and young adults.

Mr Anderson said he and his friend had been trekking through low cloud close to the summit of the snow gully.

"We heard a low rumble and then a split second later we were caught in a rock fall," he added.

His energy, warmth and sense of humour will be sorely missed by the many people lucky enough to have known him Manchester Climbing Centre

"A huge boulder about the size of a table just hit Chris head-on.

"I went over to him. He was badly hurt. His right arm was very badly messed up. He was unconscious but then came round.

"I dug him a snow hole and moved him to as safe a spot as I could.

"I wrapped a bandage around his arm to try and stop the bleeding and then went for help."

It took Mr Anderson several hours to climb down the mountain to summon a rescue team. When they arrived Mr Polden was dead.

Manchester Climbing Centre paid tribute to Mr Polden, describing him as a "talented climber and mountaineer".

In a statement those at the centre said he had been an asset to mountaineering and a great friend.

"His energy, warmth and sense of humour will be sorely missed by the many people lucky enough to have known him," it read.