Pictured: Father-to-be, 28, who died after falling 1,000 feet from Ben Nevis is named as tributes pour in for a ‘fantastic husband’ who ‘would have been the best dad’

• Samuel Crawford, 28, named as tragic climber who plunged 948ft at Ben Nevis
• Father-to-be Mr Crawford, from Belfast, had married his wife just 18 months ago 
• He had been descending the Scottish peak with a group after reaching summit
• Some 17 others, including 12 soldiers, became stuck while trying to save him 

A young climber who plunged 1,000ft to his death off Ben Nevis during a deadly descent has been identified as a young father-to-be from Northern Ireland.

Samuel Crawford, 28, fell in ‘ferocious’ and icy conditions on Tuesday some 3,000ft up Britain’s tallest peak, in the Scottish Highlands. 

The climbers he had ascended with and another group, believed to be made up of 12 Army soldiers from Edinburgh, attempted to rescue him. 

However in chaotic scenes, all 17 also became stuck, sparking an eight-hour rescue mission which saw several airlifted by coastguard helicopters. 

Mr Crawford married his wife just 18 months ago, and the couple had been expecting their first child together, his minister explained.   

The Reverend Garth Wilson, from Sandown Free Presbyterian Church in east Belfast, expressed his ‘heartfelt sympathies’ for the family and praised Mr Crawford for being a ‘fantastic husband’ who ‘would have been the best father’.

In a tribute shared to the church’s social media pages, Rev Wilson said: ‘He was one of the brightest lights in our congregation in Sandown and we will miss him terribly’.

Samuel Crawford, 28, of Belfast, Northern Irelnd, was an expectant father who fell in ‘ferocious’ and icy conditions on Tuesday some 3,000ft up Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team pull an injured climber to rescue during wintry and ‘ferocious’ conditions on Ben Nevis this week – which saw a 28-year-old and two others killed

The young climber fell around 1,000ft at Red Burn, on the west side of Ben Nevis on Tuesday. He had been descending with a group having reached the 4,413ft summit.

The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team said in a social media post: ‘The past five days have been especially busy for the team’, revealing there had been 26 casualties and three deaths (Pictured: One of rescue missions sees a climber pulled on a stretcher to safety) 

Tuesday’s fatality was the third death in the Highlands in a week – while hopes for another missing walker are fading. (Pictured: Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team during one of its Ben Nevis missions this week) 

Members of Lochaber and Glencoe mountain rescue teams (MRTs) – together with members of a police mountain rescue team – were sent to Ben Nevis after the alarm was raised at around 2.15pm. 

A total of 40 rescuers had to be sent to the mountaintop from Prestwick and Inverness, with some of the climbers being walked off the hill to safety.   

Tragic climber Mr Crawford had plunged around 984ft at Red Burn on the west side of the mountain. He and his party had been descending Ben Nevis after reaching the summit.

‘The conditions were classic Alpine conditions – springlike in the glen but above the snow line everything is solid and an ice axe and crampons are essential and knowing how to use them,’ said Donald Paterson, deputy team leader of Lochaber MRT.

‘But this chap had fallen conservatively about 300 metres (984ft). Then others went to help him and they too ended up in trouble. One had a broken ankle and another multiple abrasions.

‘As the night wore the conditions got worse. Members of the party could have been better prepared for the conditions.

‘We would like to express our condolences to the deceased’s family and friends.’

Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader of Glencoe MRT, said the conditions were ‘ferocious’.

‘The snow fields are glazed over with ice and are quite lethal,’ he said. ‘One slip and you will go a long way.

‘The conditions last night were very difficult – as well as the ice there were very strong winds and rain. The helicopters did an amazing job.’

Two of the rescued were taken to the Belford Hospital in Fort William. They are not believed to be in a critical or serious condition.  

A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Around 2.15pm on Tuesday, 8 March, police were made aware of concerns for a number of people in difficulty on Ben Nevis.

‘Emergency services and mountain rescue colleagues attended to assist 17 people off the mountain.

‘We can confirm that a 28-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, whilst a further two men, aged 29 and 27, were treated for minor injuries in hospital.

‘There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a full report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team said in a social media post: ‘The past five days have been especially busy for the team. 

‘Since Saturday we’ve had 12 callouts and recovered 26 casualties. Unfortunately three of these shouts resulted in fatalities and we’d like to extend our heart felt condolences to the friends and family of those involved at this difficult time.

‘It would be remiss if we didn’t stress just how important it is to be adequately prepared for winter in the hills. 

What equipment and knowledge do mountaineers need to climb Ben Nevis in winter? 

At 4,413ft, the conditions on the summit of Ben Nevis will always be much colder and more treacherous than they are at sea level. 

That means that yesterday the summit of the mountain was experiencing winds of 80mph and a minus 20C wind chill while conditions at sea level were a relatively benign minus 4C with 40mph winds. 

On the summit it will have been difficult for the students to stand, and their feet would quickly have started to suffer frostbite in trainers. 

White out conditions would also have made keeping their bearings almost impossible.

Outdoor experts say that even experienced mountaineers would think twice about going out onto Ben Nevis in such conditions.   

Those that do will be equipped with crampons, ice axes, thick mountain boots and several layers of high-tech clothing. 

They will also have a map or GPS system and the ability to navigate at night and during a whiteout.

‘Having the ability to competently navigate with map and compass as well as having and being able to use crampons and axe are vital skills to have if you’re venturing into the hills.’ 

An Army spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘A small number of soldiers provided support to stranded walkers on Ben Nevis on Tuesday. 

‘They assisted the party until emergency and mountain rescue services were able to reach them.’

Tuesday’s fatality was the third death in the Highlands in a week – while hopes for another missing walker are fading.

Neil Gillingham, 43, from Kilmarnock was last seen around 1.30pm on Sunday, near the summit of 3632ft high Stob Coire Nam Beith.

He had planned to walk a route from the Hidden Valley car park to Bidean Nam Bian and Stob Coire Nam Beith before descending to the Lost Valley.

Searches on Monday involving the Glencoe, Lochaber, Oban, RAF and Police Scotland mountain rescue teams and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter failed to find Mr Gillingham. However his spaniel dog Cooper was located safe and well.

Tuesday’s search for Mr Gillingham was also unsuccessful.

Mr Gillingham is described as 5ft 8in tall, of stocky build with receding fair hair and blue eyes.

He was wearing a blue Rab waterproof jacket, black thermal trousers and brown walking boots.

Sergeant Leigh Brown of Fort William Police Station said: ‘Neil did not return as planned from a walk in Glencoe and extensive search activity is now ongoing to locate him.

‘I would urge anyone who believes they may have seen or spoken to him at any time since he was last seen near the top of Stob Coire Nam Beith on Sunday afternoon to get in touch urgently.

‘Anyone with information can call 101, quoting reference 3012 of 6 March, 2022.’

Meanwhile Lochaber MRT were called out three times on Monday.

‘With alpine conditions on the hills over the last few days, there has been plenty of people out enjoying what Lochaber has to offer,’ said a team spokesman.

‘Another three call outs for us yesterday seen visits from all our Scottish based helicopters and just for good measure Helimed joined in transferring one casualty on for further care.’

The spokesman added that the pilots had all displayed ‘very admirable’ flying skills and wished the ‘best of luck to the casualties for a speedy recovery’.

It comes after mountain rescue teams searching for an experienced hillwalker who went missing ‘out of character’ in Glencoe found a body last Friday.

The family of the man, since named as David Low, were informed.

The 47-year-old from Bridge of Allan was a keen walker but the details of his route were unknown.

A 54-year-old man died while on a walk on a mountain in Wester Ross on March 1.

Police said emergency services were alerted to an injured walker on An Teallach, near Dundonnell, at about 2.45pm that day.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police Scotland said: ‘There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a full report will be forwarded to the procurator fiscal.’

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