Man rescued by marines on Ben Nevis

MARINES on a training exercise saved the life of a climber who had begun to succumb to exposure on Ben Nevis in freezing conditions.

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Royal and Dutch Marines who rescued a climber after he began to succumb to exposure atop Ben Nevis in freezing conditions. The squad consisted of Scottish Marine reserves and the Dutch Korps Mariniers

(MOD/CROWN COPYRIGHT/PA WIRE)

The team found the man lying in the snow near the summit of the Scottish mountain on January 24, as temperatures plunged during a blizzard.

The rescue squad consisted of Scottish Royal Marine Reserves and the Dutch Korps Mariniers, and they said ice had started to form on exposed parts of the man’s body due to the length of time he had been in the conditions.

RMR Colour Sergeant McKenzie said: “Solid blocks of ice clung to his eyebrows, hat, and gloves - evidence of long exposure to freezing conditions.