A survivor of one of the worst avalanche tragedy in the Highlands told yesterday of the moment when his friends were swept away to their deaths.
Thomas Leyland told an inquest that the snow cracked beneath them as they descended from Bidean nam Bian and five of the party of six were swept over a cliff.
Mr Leyland managed to dig his ice-axe into the snow and arrest his plunge, and was horrified when he later realised the rest of the group had fallen 1,000ft.
Four young climbers died in the avalanche which happened on January 19, and yesterday an inquest was held into the death of Christopher Bell, 24, a “brilliant” PhD student studying in Oban.
Mr Bell, died along with Tom Chesters, 28, a Phd student from Leeds, Dr Rachel Majumdar, 29, who worked at Harrogate District Hospital in Yorkshire and junior doctor Una Rachel Finnegan, 25, who was living in Edinburgh.
Another member of the group was taken to hospital with serious injuries but survived.
Mr Leyland, who grew up with Mr Bell in Balderstone, Lancs, described him as a “brilliant” and “intelligent” student.
He said that the group were experienced walkers, but when the crack appeared in the snow they were pushed onto their backs and forced down the hill by waves of snow.
Mr Leyland said: “We had hired crampons (spikes fitted to boots) to give us extra grip. Tom and Chris led the team and conducted avalanche checks throughout the ascent.
“When we reached the top the visibility declined so we reassessed our return route and chose one which seemed the easiest and safest.
“We started to zig zag down the mountain because it was too steep to go straight forward with Tom and then Chris leading the way.
“I was just about to turn a corner they had already taken when the ground cracked and we were pushed down the slope.
“When I got up I realised that I had lost sight of the others.
“When I passed the outcrop and still couldn’t see them I realised how serious it was.”
Mr Bell’s brother Edward, 22, said: “It was a freak tragedy. Chris was a brilliant brother and lived life to the full as he wanted.”
Chief Coroner Michael Singleton ruled that Mr Bell, who had been studying ocean mapping at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, died an accidental death caused by multiple injuries as a result of the incident.
The coroner added: “This is truly a tragedy almost beyond comprehension.”