International Marine Unit Saves Climber from Fatal Exposure on Ben Nevis
A joint team of Scottish Royal Marine Reserves and Dutch Korps Mariniers executed a dramatic mountain rescue on Ben Nevis, saving the life of a climber who was succumbing to severe hypothermia during treacherous winter conditions.
Discovery in the Blizzard
The rescue squad discovered the man lying in deep snow near the summit of Scotland's highest mountain on January 24th, as temperatures plummeted during a fierce blizzard. Ice had formed on exposed parts of his body, indicating prolonged exposure to the freezing elements.
RMR Colour Sergeant McKenzie described the scene: 'Solid blocks of ice clung to his eyebrows, hat, and gloves - evidence of long exposure to freezing conditions. One walking pole was bent, the other appeared broken or fully collapsed.'
Deteriorating Condition in Extreme Weather
The climber revealed he had become separated from two friends and had no idea of their whereabouts. Conditions were exceptionally severe, with McKenzie estimating: 'The wind was biting and relentless... we estimated gusts to be around 40mph. Combined with the summit temperature, this put the wind chill somewhere in the region of minus 15C to minus 20C, making any exposed skin sting almost instantly.'
As the marines began assisting him down the mountain, his condition rapidly deteriorated. McKenzie reported: 'To speed things up, one of the Dutch lads took his arm to steady him, but his condition continued to deteriorate. A second Dutch marine moved to his other side so the pair could support him fully.'
Critical Deterioration and Improvised Rescue
The descent proved challenging, with several crampons being knocked loose during the awkward spacing between rescuers. During one stop to fix equipment, the climber's decline became unmistakable.
'His posture sagged, his co-ordination faltered, and his responses slowed,' McKenzie observed. 'Then he said he couldn't bend his leg, a clear sign that cold, exhaustion, and exposure were now affecting his physical functions. He was entering hypothermia, and it was obvious he would not be walking in the immediate future.'
Faced with this emergency, the marines created an improvised stretcher using a bivvy sack, ropes, a mat and a jacket, carefully transporting the climber down the mountain to safety.
Training Exercise Becomes Real Rescue
The Dutch marines were in Scotland participating in Exercise Highland Warrior, a mountain-training event with the RMR. Sergeant Onno Lankhaar, section commander for the Dutch marines, stated unequivocally: 'If we hadn't seen him, he certainly would not have survived.'
Reflecting on the successful operation, McKenzie praised both the international cooperation and recent training: 'It was not only a privilege to be invited by the Dutch to join them on their bucket-list climb of Ben Nevis, but also an absolute pleasure to work alongside them throughout the day. A major reason we were able to respond as effectively as we did was the excellent training delivered by Sergeant Rich Ely and Major Matt O'Toole in the days leading up to this event.'
He emphasized how their preparation proved crucial: 'The skills, drills and preparation they reinforced during the week directly enabled us to deal with the situation confidently and safely when it mattered.'
