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British climber dies in Alps fall British climber dies in Alps fall
(about 3 hours later)
An 18-year-old British man has plunged 160ft to his death in the French Alps, near Chamonix, police have said. A 19-year-old British man has plunged 160ft to his death in the French Alps.
Ian Jackson, from Guisborough near Middlesbrough, fell from the rock face on the Les Gaillands after using one rope instead of two to abseil down. Ian Jackson, from Guisborough near Middlesbrough, fell 49m from a rock face near Chamonix. He died on board a rescue helicopter heading to Geneva.
He was airlifted out by rescue helicopter but died during his transfer to a hospital in Geneva. A French police spokesman said there had been a "big technical mistake", with Mr Jackson abseiling with one rope instead of two on Les Gaillands crag.
He is understood to have been on holiday with two friends who witnessed the fatal accident. Mother Angela told the Evening Gazette that her son was "happy-go-lucky, very laid-back and had a very kind nature".
A French police spokesperson said: "They saw their friend falling. They could do nothing because it was too late." She added: "No matter what - he would never have stopped his climbing."
His father David told the newspaper that his son had loved climbing since the age of 14.
"We believe the accident is to do with abseiling, but we don't know the details. It wouldn't surprise me if he had tried to help others. That's what he was like."
I have no doubt that in five years' time he would have been one of the leading lights of British climbing Tom Ripley
He added: "Mountaineering was his passion. He was very popular and had loads of friends."
The family are making their way to France, and are receiving assistance from Foreign Office staff.
Climbing partner Franco Cookson paid tribute to Mr Jackson on the website UKClimbing.
"His eternal optimism and complete lack of ego will be a great loss to the climbing community," he wrote.
"Ian will be deeply missed by his family and friends."
'Too late'
Also on the site, fellow climber Tom Ripley wrote: "Ian was clearly very driven and I have no doubt that in five years' time he would have been one of the leading lights of British climbing."
The police spokesman said the teenager's two friends were watching from below at the time of the accident, at about 1600 local time (1500 BST).
He said "a big technical mistake" was made during the climb.He said "a big technical mistake" was made during the climb.
"When you abseil you must take two ropes and he only took one rope." "When you abseil you must take two ropes and he only took one rope," the spokesman said.
He added: "The helicopter came but it was too late. He fell a lot of metres. He had no chance." "The helicopter came but it was too late. He fell a lot of metres. He had no chance."
Les Gaillands is a crag popular with climbers in the Chamonix Valley, an area famous for its ski resorts.
Mr Jackson's family have been informed and are making their way to France.
The Foreign Office confirmed Mr Jackson's death and said it was providing consular assistance to his family.