Dramatic Ben Nevis Rescue as Marines Save Hiker from Freezing Death
In a remarkable mountain rescue operation, a combined squad of Royal and Dutch Marines saved the life of a hypothermic hiker who was discovered curled up in snow with icicles clinging to his face near the summit of Ben Nevis. The dramatic incident occurred on Saturday, January 24th, when the military personnel encountered the struggling climber during a training exercise on Britain's highest peak.
Icicle-Covered Hiker Found in Subzero Blizzard Conditions
The rescue team, comprising Scottish Royal Marine Reserves and the Dutch Korps Mariniers, found the man succumbing to exposure as a fierce blizzard raged across the mountain. Colour Sergeant McKenzie from the RMR described the chilling 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."
The hiker had become separated from his two companions during the deteriorating weather and had abandoned his climb as temperatures plummeted dangerously. When questioned by the marines, he revealed he had no idea where his friends were located on the 1,345-metre mountain.
Perilous Descent Through Extreme Weather
The rescue operation unfolded in brutally challenging conditions, with Colour Sergeant McKenzie estimating wind gusts reached approximately 40 mph. Combined with summit temperatures, this created wind chill factors between –15°C and –20°C, causing exposed skin to sting almost instantly upon contact with the air.
Complicating matters further, the climber lacked proper crampons for the icy terrain, causing him to slip repeatedly during the initial descent. As the marines assisted him down the slope, his condition deteriorated noticeably. "His posture sagged, his coordination faltered, and his responses slowed," McKenzie reported. "Then he said he couldn't bend his leg, a clear sign that cold, exhaustion, and exposure were now affecting his physical functions."
Improvised Stretcher and Critical Intervention
Recognizing the hiker was entering advanced hypothermia and would be unable to walk further, the marines employed their standard training equipment to improvise a rescue stretcher. Using a waterproof bivvy sack, ropes, a mat, and a thick jacket, they created a means to transport the casualty down the mountain safely.
Sergeant Onno Lankhaar, section commander for the Dutch marines who were in Scotland for Exercise Highland Warrior, emphasized the gravity of the situation: "If we hadn't seen him, he certainly would not have survived." The Dutch personnel were participating in a mountain-training package with RMR Scotland when they encountered the distressed climber.
Successful Outcome and Training Validation
Once the group reached the snowline, the rescued hiker had recovered sufficiently to walk independently and was handed over to emergency services as a precautionary measure. His two fellow walkers had already made their way safely down the mountain before the rescue occurred.
Colour Sergeant McKenzie reflected on both the international cooperation and training that made the successful rescue possible: "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 in the days leading up to this event."
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by Britain's highest mountains during winter conditions, while simultaneously highlighting the vital skills and preparedness of military personnel engaged in mountain training exercises.
