Four climbers killed by avalanche fell 1,000ft, as fifth man escaped with ice axe - Polidicks

[url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/9814190/Four-climbers-killed-by-avalanche-fell-1000ft-as-fifth-man-escaped-with-ice-axe.html[/url] [quote]Two men and two women, all in their 20s, died after being caught in an avalanche and falling 1,000ft. A fifth man is believed to have escaped falling to his death by jumping to firmer ground and clinging to an ice axe embedded in the snow. One 24-year-old woman from Durham was airlifted to hospital with severe head injuries after the snow-covered slope the group were crossing broke away. She is currently in a critical condition with her family by her bedside. [img]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02456/bidean-rescue-3_2456794c.jpg[/img] Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond has described the accident as an "appalling tragedy", as a member of the rescue team likened the "brutal experience" of an avalanche to "standing on a carpet and having it pulled out from underneath you". Andy Nelson, deputy head of Glencoe Mountain Rescue which attended the incident, said the climbers would have been engulfed in a "split second". "Being in an avalanche is literally like standing on a carpet and having it pulled out from underneath you," he said. "Any thoughts of trying to swim out from out of it is futile. "You are on steep ground, essentially standing on a raft of snow that is sliding downhill at speeds of maybe 40mph to 50mph. "It would have unfolded in a split second, they would have felt the snow moving and then they would have been travelling at a speed that was impossible to stop. "The man that survived was standing above the snow and we think he actually jumped and got his ice axe into firmer snow. "They slid over some very rocky ground and ended up about 1,000 feet below, under between 1.5 and two metres of snow. "It's a brutal experience. There are enormous forces at work and you are being twisted about at high speed." All of the missing climbers were found within four hours of the alarm being raised. Superintendent Philip MacRae, from Northern Constabulary, said: "Our thoughts are with the families and all those who are affected by this tragic incident. "Members of the climbing party were from different parts of the UK and a priority for us has been to trace and inform all next of kin. They have now been informed and we have family liaison officers in place." Jonathan Hart, chairman of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland, said: "This was a tragic event and I speak on behalf of all the mountain rescue team members involved when I say our hearts go out to the casualties and the families of all those involved. "Everything possible was done, as part of an outstanding multi-agency response, to increase the opportunities for survival of the casualties and take them off the mountain before the hours of darkness. It is very sad that there has been such a tragic outcome." The Rev Moira Herkes, who led a service at St Munda's Church in nearby Ballachulish, said prayers for those who had died. She told the congregation: "We include in our prayers thoughts for the deceased in yesterday's tragic accident on the mountain and their families. Somehow life must continue. We accept the challenges of nature as part of our living. "We also pray for the people who are injured, both physically and emotionally. "And we give our thanks to those prepared to risk their lives in the saving of others, and do so with a sense of commitment and through thinking beyond themselves." [/quote] Holy crap. I couldn't even imagine falling 40 ft, never mind 1000.

Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] I think the shock of your head about to be smashed into rock in a matter of moments isn't something you'd choose if given the option. Actually. No. I'll go further. It's fucking terrifying.

Well a short fall might be scary but an 1000 foot fall wouldn't be...for me at least.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] That's if you die on impact

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] I don't see how it would be the most peaceful way compared to killing yourself with carbon monoxide or something like that. Plus if you somehow miraculously survived the fall I don't think that would be very peaceful. Like that one guy who tried killing himself and survived a 200 ft fall because he landed on a car.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] But the feeling when you're falling must be horrible.

[QUOTE=Articsledder;39293163]That's if you die on impact[/QUOTE] Nothing like trying to scream while you have broken everything while wedged between some large boulders at the bottom of a canyon.

Visit Scotland launch a huge advertising campaign, people die. The Visit Scotland campaign is killing people.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] Falling backwards on a chair certainly doesn't feel peaceful while you're slowly tilting backwards. :v:

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] I don't know if knowing you will die in a few seconds and there is nothing you can do is nice.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] Who said that? Has someone made it through multiple near-death experiences and witnessed what was the most peaceful one?

[QUOTE=STeel;39293718]Who said that? Has someone made it through multiple near-death experiences and witnessed what was the most peaceful one?[/QUOTE] The chance of that is quite large, yeah.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293161]Well a short fall might be scary but an 1000 foot fall wouldn't be...for me at least.[/QUOTE] 40 feet is scary because I know I'm going to be in a world of pain 1000 feet is totally peaceful, at least towards the end of the fall, because i know that it's just going to be over

In a scary coincidence, I was hiking there last week before the snow hit. I work in a climbing centre so I'm surrounded by mountaineers, climbers, hikers, walkers etc all day... and it's kind of crazy when something like this happens. The entire community definitely feels a little more sombre. Makes it hit home that mother nature can really mess us up sometimes. I'm supposed to be doing some winter mountaineering on Tuesday and it's stuff like this that makes me a little nervous. Tragic :(

[QUOTE=Blazyd;39293487]But the feeling when you're falling must be horrible.[/QUOTE] "holy shit i'm falling i'm gonna die oh god-" *splat* Well, I guess it is better than being buried in snow. Can't move or see or even hear anything, you would automatically panic.

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] its not the fall that kills you, its the sudden stop...on a rock.

[QUOTE=FFStudios;39294264]40 feet is scary because I know I'm going to be in a world of pain 1000 feet is totally peaceful, at least towards the end of the fall, because i know that it's just going to be over[/QUOTE] It's not very peaceful when you're constantly hitting the steep slope you're falling down.

wow some posts in this thread are weird.

I actually cant sleep from thinking about this... I realise people die all the time, particularly in extreme outdoor activities, but I've never really had to hear about it on my own turf. Kinda makes it hit home. It really, really sucks baws. [editline]21st January 2013[/editline] Fuck... They were named earlier tonight and we've actually got friends in common. God fucking damn it.

[QUOTE=FFStudios;39294264]40 feet is scary because I know I'm going to be in a world of pain 1000 feet is totally peaceful, at least towards the end of the fall, because i know that it's just going to be over[/QUOTE] I'd rather be in a world of pain than die. It's basic human instincts to pick anything over death. The simple thought of seeing your death coming and not being able to do anything about it is terrifying. Hell I'd rather be at the first floor of a collapsing building than dropped from the sky, at least in that building, I have that one string of hope left, despite an horrible death crushed (slowly if unlucky) knocking at the door.

You also suffocate under the snow if you don't die on the way down.

If you are ever buried in an avalanche and think you can dig yourself out drool so that you can see which way is down

[QUOTE=FFStudios;39294264]40 feet is scary because I know I'm going to be in a world of pain 1000 feet is totally peaceful, at least towards the end of the fall, because i know that it's just going to be over[/QUOTE] what if..... you don't want to die? Pretty scary knowing you are fucked

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;39293081]Falling is said to be the most peaceful way to go, almost...nice. Just something to think about.[/QUOTE] Because Falling Accidentally 1,000Ft is a pleasurable experience. I'd probably be screaming, fear of falling right here.

Avalanche sounds like the absolute worst way to die. Frozen, literally unable to move, freezing and just waiting to suffocate to death. Fuck, that just irks me thinking about it.