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| British climbers die in the Alps | British climbers die in the Alps |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The youngest Briton to have climbed Mount Everest has been killed, along with a second British climber, in an accident in the French Alps. | |
| Rob Gauntlett, of Petworth, Sussex, reached the summit of Mount Everest when he was just 19 in 2006 and was highly regarded in the climbing world. | Rob Gauntlett, of Petworth, Sussex, reached the summit of Mount Everest when he was just 19 in 2006 and was highly regarded in the climbing world. |
| His mother Nicola Gauntlett said the 21-year-old's family were "devastated". | His mother Nicola Gauntlett said the 21-year-old's family were "devastated". |
| She said he and his as yet unnamed friend had been ice-climbing in Chamonix when there was a "big fall". | She said he and his as yet unnamed friend had been ice-climbing in Chamonix when there was a "big fall". |
| We can only take consolation that he died doing something that he loved Nicola Gauntlettdead climber's mother | We can only take consolation that he died doing something that he loved Nicola Gauntlettdead climber's mother |
| Mrs Gauntlett said: "At the moment we don't know exactly what happened but there was obviously a big fall and they both died. We've only just been told the news." | Mrs Gauntlett said: "At the moment we don't know exactly what happened but there was obviously a big fall and they both died. We've only just been told the news." |
| She said they arrived in the region on 2 January and were due back in the UK on Wednesday. | She said they arrived in the region on 2 January and were due back in the UK on Wednesday. |
| Mrs Gauntlett added that she and her husband, David, would be travelling to France on Sunday. | Mrs Gauntlett added that she and her husband, David, would be travelling to France on Sunday. |
| She went on: "We are all just devastated. He's far too young to die. We had spoken about something like this happening only recently. | She went on: "We are all just devastated. He's far too young to die. We had spoken about something like this happening only recently. |
| "We can only take consolation that he died doing something that he loved." | "We can only take consolation that he died doing something that he loved." |
| Mrs Gauntlett said she was not prepared to disclose the identity of the second Briton who died. | Mrs Gauntlett said she was not prepared to disclose the identity of the second Briton who died. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that two British nationals were killed in an accident in the French Alps." | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that two British nationals were killed in an accident in the French Alps." |
| She was unable to confirm reports that the pair had died in an avalanche. | She was unable to confirm reports that the pair had died in an avalanche. |
| In November 2008 Mr Gauntlett and his friend James Hooper, of Somerset, were named National Geographic 2008 Adventurers of the Year at the society's base in Washington DC. | In November 2008 Mr Gauntlett and his friend James Hooper, of Somerset, were named National Geographic 2008 Adventurers of the Year at the society's base in Washington DC. |
| Prince's Trust | Prince's Trust |
| The accolade was in recognition of a 22,000-mile journey using only human and natural power from the Magnetic North to the Magnetic South Poles to raise awareness of climate change. | The accolade was in recognition of a 22,000-mile journey using only human and natural power from the Magnetic North to the Magnetic South Poles to raise awareness of climate change. |
| During the expedition between the Earth's magnetic poles, Mr Hooper and Mr Gauntlett skied, used dog-sleighs, sailed and cycled through Greenland, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. | During the expedition between the Earth's magnetic poles, Mr Hooper and Mr Gauntlett skied, used dog-sleighs, sailed and cycled through Greenland, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. |
| The former pupils of Christ's Hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, then sailed to New York to begin the 11,000-mile cycle ride to Punta Arenas, Chile. | The former pupils of Christ's Hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, then sailed to New York to begin the 11,000-mile cycle ride to Punta Arenas, Chile. |
| After completing the trip from the North to the South Poles in April the pair sailed 1,800 nautical miles to Australia. | After completing the trip from the North to the South Poles in April the pair sailed 1,800 nautical miles to Australia. |
| Their expedition also helped to raise money for the Prince's Trust. | Their expedition also helped to raise money for the Prince's Trust. |
| In 2006 they became the youngest Britons to climb Everest. | In 2006 they became the youngest Britons to climb Everest. |