Inquiry opens on Shropshire climber's avalanche death
A Shropshire climber swept 1,500ft to his death by a massive wave of snow on a Scottish mountain had changed his route to avoid avalanches, an inquiry has heard. A Shropshire climber swept 1,500ft to his death by a massive wave of snow on a Scottish mountain had changed his route to avoid avalanches, an inquiry has heard. Robert Pritchard, 37, was in a party of three when the avalanche struck on the Buachaille Etive Mor at Glencoe. Mr Pritchard, who had previously lived in Bicton and Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury, died in the fall along with Christopher Walker, 29, a mountain climbing instructor from Cumbria. Yesterday a survivor told how he watched in horror as Mr Pritchard, who had been living in Surrey, and Mr Walker were killed. Software developer Ritchie Birkett, 29, said he saw the pair desperately plunging their ice picks into the snow in a bid to stop them being dragged to their deaths. He was speaking on the first day of a fatal accident inquiry at Fort William Sheriff Court into the incident on February 24.
A Shropshire climber swept 1,500ft to his death by a massive wave of snow on a Scottish mountain had changed his route to avoid avalanches, an inquiry has heard.
Robert Pritchard, 37, was in a party of three when the avalanche struck on the Buachaille Etive Mor at Glencoe.
Mr Pritchard, who had previously lived in Bicton and Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury, died in the fall along with Christopher Walker, 29, a mountain climbing instructor from Cumbria.
Yesterday a survivor told how he watched in horror as Mr Pritchard, who had been living in Surrey, and Mr Walker were killed.
Software developer Ritchie Birkett, 29, said he saw the pair desperately plunging their ice picks into the snow in a bid to stop them being dragged to their deaths.
He was speaking on the first day of a fatal accident inquiry at Fort William Sheriff Court into the incident on February 24.
Mr Pritchard, whose parents still live in Shrewsbury, worked in finance in London.
The inquiry heard that Mr Walker was a freelance instructor employed by Sheffield-based Jagged Globe. He had taken two clients to climb Curved Ridge in Glencoe.
Mr Birkett, one of the clients, said they were enjoying the third day of their expedition when the tragedy happened.
He said: "Chris decided not to take the route down through Coire na Tulach. He left us in no uncertain terms that it was not a safe route, because of the avalanche risks. He ultimately made the decision."
The party then started their descent down the North-West Ridge with another pair of climbers they had met at the summit.
"Chris and Robert were up ahead," said Mr Birkett.
"I shouted avalanche. They turned around and were instantly taken down. The last I saw of them was trying to do an ice axe arrest in to the snow. They instantly went out of sight."
Other climbers discovered the bodies and they then made their way to the base to raise the alarm.
Earlier Edward Chad, 42, who ran the Scottish expeditions for Jagged Globe, said the risk of avalanche was forecast as "moderate".
The inquiry continues.
By Russell Roberts
