Police have named a hillwalker who tragically died after falling almost 100ft in Glen Nevis during a training exercise.
Richard Armstrong, from Cumbria, died after plunging from a path leading up Stob Ban – a mountain on the south side of the glen on Sunday afternoon.
The 42-year-old’s body was recovered by Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team who battled to find him while Storm Dennis raged.
Richard had been hiking with a companion and guide while taking part in a winter hills training course.
The formal identification comes after Lochaber MRT deputy leader Donald Paterson told of the horrific conditions faced by his team of rescuers as he questioned the decision to stage a training exercise in such extreme weather.
He said: “The winds were gusting over 50mph. I was knocked over twice. Some of my team were also knocked over too. There was snow, hail, wind and rain at lower levels. It was awful.
“I don’t think their objective was to reach the summit. They were halfway up the hill. But the conditions were horrific – horrendous.
“It is questionable that they (the guided party) should have been out in that weather but it is their decision to make over the conditions.
“I don’t think the guy who died was experienced. There were three groups on the hill doing winter training. This particularly group was two inexperienced people with the guide.
“The man was either blown over over or fell 20 to 30 metres (66ft to 98ft) into a small gorge about halfway up the hill.
“It took us an hour to get him out of there and then another three hours to take him down by stretcher. It was horrendous.
“There was also thunder and lightning about. We had 19 team members on the hill. They did a brilliant job.”
It was the third rescue in a week for the team.
Last Monday, four walkers were rescued from Ben Nevis in a -20C blizzard – three of them wearing trainers.
Three days later, two climbers were rescued off the mountain after being trapped on the north face.
