British climber killed in 160ft fall

A British teenager has fallen 160 feet to his death while climbing in the French Alps, police have said.

Ian Jackson, from Middlesbrough, made a mistake with his ropes while abseiling down after a climb in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc.

The 18-year-old was airlifted by rescue helicopter to Geneva but died on the way to the hospital.

A police spokesman said two of Mr Jackson's friends were watching from below as he abseiled down the Les Gaillands rock face.

He said: "When he was abseiling down, one of the guys made a big technical mistake and he fell. When you abseil you must take two ropes and he only took one rope.

"The helicopter came but it was too late. He fell a lot of metres. He had no chance."

The spokesman said Mr Jackson's friends are "devastated" by what happened.

He said: "They saw their friend falling from the top to the bottom. They could do nothing because when he was falling it was too late."

Mr Jackson's family have been told and are flying to France.

Meanwhile, fears are growing for a British teacher who has been missing for 12 days in the French Alps.

Christopher Hilton, 33, went hiking on July 27 and has not been seen since, despite air and land searches by the French authorities.

Mr Hilton, from Stalybridge, Cheshire, was on holiday with his parents when he vanished.

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