Ben Nevis climber death: Slow, painful road back from tragedy

A CLIMBER who survived a 1,000ft fall on Ben Nevis in which his friend was killed is making a slow recovery at home after being released from hospital.

David Warden, 46, was scaling Zero Gully near the peak of Britain’s highest mountain with Paul Guest, 32, when the tragedy happened.

The pair were roped together and rescue services were alerted to their plight by Mr Warden’s screams following the accident on 19 February.

Mr Warden, from Stanley, Perthshire, was too upset to speak about the incident, but his wife, Lynne, said her husband had “been to hell and back”.

“My husband just wants to recover now,” she said. “It will be a slow recovery, but he is getting there.

“We know the people involved in his rescue and will thank them personally when we are able to do so. We also want to thank all the people at Ninewells Hospital [in Dundee] because they have been fantastic.”

Mrs Warden kept a vigil at her husband’s bedside throughout his stay in Fort William’s Belford Hospital and Ninewells, where he was treated for injuries sustained in the fall from the 4,409ft mountain.

Asked whether her husband intended to resume climbing, she said: “He is now just wanting to recover. I can’t comment on that, as it’s early days.”

Mr Warden and Mr Guest, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, were experienced climbers who had tackled some of the world’s highest peaks.

Mrs Warden told how her husband had always taken care when climbing.

She said: “They were both competent climbers and the conditions were good. Their equipment was in a good condition – it was just a tragic accident.”

Exact details of how the pair came to fall have not been revealed, but Mrs Warden said her husband had never been in trouble while climbing before.

She said: “Climbing is his passion, he loves it, he has always done it. There are risks to everything and you do worry about him, but safety always comes first with David, he’s very cautious.

“He’s been away climbing a lot of times in Europe and around Scotland and this is the first time he’s had an accident.”

Lochaber Mountain Rescue and an RAF helicopter were called to the scene following the accident. Rescuer John Stevenson said the “conditions were excellent” and that the two men had “done everything right”.

Mr Guest’s parents, Peter and Christine, paid tribute to their son following his death last week.

They said: “Paul was quietly confident and modest about his achievements, but with well over 500 climbs under his belt, he achieved a great deal and, as a family, we are immensely proud of his achievements.

“He was incredibly loyal and generous, having friends from all walks of life and all parts of the UK.”

Mr Guest took up mountaineering at the age of 21 and had tackled mountains in Bolivia and the Alps, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, the Eiger and Illimani.