08/08/2008
British Climber Falls To His Death In French Alps
A British teenager has fallen to his death while abseiling in the French Alps, according to police.
Ian Jackson, 18, from Guisborough near Middlesbrough, fell 160ft from the rock face on the Les Gaillands after using just one rope to abseil down instead of two.
Mr Jackson was airlifted to hospital after the accident on Wednesday afternoon but died from his injuries.
It is understood the teenager had been on holiday with his two friends who witnessed the fatal fall. He been abseiling down after a climb in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc.
A French police spokesman said: "They saw their friend falling. They could do nothing because it was too late."
He added Mr Jackson had made a "big technical mistake" by taking one rope, stating "when you abseil you must take two ropes".
A rescue helicopter attended the scene but it was too late as "he had fallen a lot of metres" and "he had no chance".
Les Gaillands is a crag popular with climbers in the Chamonix Valley, an area famed for its ski resorts.
Mr Jackson's next of kin have been informed and are making their way to France.
The Foreign Office has confirmed Mr Jacksons death and said it was providing consular assistance to his family.
A spokesman for the teenagers friends said they were "devastated' by what happened.
(DS/JM)
Ian Jackson, 18, from Guisborough near Middlesbrough, fell 160ft from the rock face on the Les Gaillands after using just one rope to abseil down instead of two.
Mr Jackson was airlifted to hospital after the accident on Wednesday afternoon but died from his injuries.
It is understood the teenager had been on holiday with his two friends who witnessed the fatal fall. He been abseiling down after a climb in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc.
A French police spokesman said: "They saw their friend falling. They could do nothing because it was too late."
He added Mr Jackson had made a "big technical mistake" by taking one rope, stating "when you abseil you must take two ropes".
A rescue helicopter attended the scene but it was too late as "he had fallen a lot of metres" and "he had no chance".
Les Gaillands is a crag popular with climbers in the Chamonix Valley, an area famed for its ski resorts.
Mr Jackson's next of kin have been informed and are making their way to France.
The Foreign Office has confirmed Mr Jacksons death and said it was providing consular assistance to his family.
A spokesman for the teenagers friends said they were "devastated' by what happened.
(DS/JM)
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