First pic of Ben Nevis climber, 21, who plunged 1,600ft to his death on Christmas hiking trip with uni pals
Patrick Boothroyd died from the fall, while his companion miraculously survived with only broken bones
THESE are the first pictures of a 21-year-old climber who died after falling 1,600ft during a trip to Ben Nevis.
Patrick Boothroyd had organised the outing as a Christmas treat for his mountaineering club at Cardiff University, of which he was the vice president.
An avid climber, Patrick, from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, was on the first day of climbing on the trip on Sunday when the tragedy happened.
He had helped organise the seven night stay in Fort William for the club and was an experienced climber who had tackled mountains across the UK and Europe.
But police were alerted to the accident at about 2:25pm on Sunday.
Patrick and another friend were climbing Tower Gully on the mountain’s North Face and were going through a cornice - an overhanging ledge of snow - near the top when it collapsed on them.
He was flown by a coastguard search and rescue helicopter to hospital in Fort William where he died from his injuries.
His climbing partner survived the fall and has been receiving treatment at hospital for "non-life threatening injuries".
The tragic climber was in the third year of a geology degree at Cardiff University when the tragedy happened.
Patrick, who was vice president of the mountaineering society" was described as "diligent and hardworking" by his lecturers.
His fellow students have been offered counselling since learning of his death.
Head of Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Professor Ian Hall said: “Patrick Boothroyd was a diligent, hardworking and well-liked third-year student studying Exploration Geology.
“We are all deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic event. Our immediate thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
“We are encouraging anyone within the University community who has been affected by this tragic event to contact our staff or student counselling services.”
Patrick had organised the week-long trip driving 500 miles Cardiff to Fort William for the Ben Nevis trip.
The uni members were staying at a bunkhouse in Fort William and had opened the trip up to the public.
The trip cost £190 and the group were climbing in snow with ice axes and wearing crampons.
Donald Paterson, deputy leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said: "The cornice snow was soft and had no real purchase so it started moving.
"It just collapsed on them as they came through the cornice. The snow was not enough to bury them but large enough to carry them down the mountain.
"They must have fallen 1,640ft - one walks away with a few cracked ribs, and the other sadly loses his life."
The coastguard airlifted the climber to the Belford Hospital in Fort William, where he died from his injuries.
Police Scotland confirmed his identity.
Patrick's family have been informed of his death.
Around 30 members of Lochaber MRT were sent after the alarm was raised on Sunday.
Mr Paterson said: "They were both sat in the snow when we found them. The one chap had suffered a very serious head injury. His climbing partner had raised the alarm by mobile phone.
"CPR was administered in the helicopter to the badly injured lad, but sadly he could not be saved. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends over this tragic loss of a young life."
It was the third mountain death in the Highlands within four weeks.
Cops have now paid tribute to the climber and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
Sergeant Michael Bell said: "Our thoughts are with the man's friends and family at this very sad time.
"There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.
"I would take the opportunity to thank the crew of the HM Coastguard helicopter and Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team for their assistance with this incident."
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A spokesman for Cardiff University said: "We are aware of the tragic death of a Cardiff University student over the weekend.
"The next of kin have been notified and we continue to liaise closely with our students' union colleagues.
"Our immediate thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends. Advice and support is available to anyone touched by this event."
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