![\"Pic:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/skynews-marines-royal-dutch_7150454.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMarines on a training exercise saved the life of a stranded climber who had begun to succumb to exposure on Ben Nevis in freezing conditions.<\/p>\n
The team found the man curled up in the snow near the summit of the Scottish mountain on 24 January, as temperatures plunged during a blizzard.<\/p>\n
The rescue squad consisted of Scottish Royal Marine Reserves (RMR) and the Dutch Korps Mariniers.<\/p>\n
RMR Colour Sergeant McKenzie said: “Solid blocks of ice clung to his eyebrows, hat, and gloves – evidence of long exposure to freezing conditions.<\/p>\n
“One walking pole was bent, the other appeared broken or fully collapsed.<\/p>\n
“When spoken to, he revealed that he had become separated from his two friends and had no idea where they were.<\/p>\n
“The wind was biting and relentless, and based on conditions we had experienced earlier in the week during Royal Marines mountain training, we estimated gusts to be around 40mph.<\/p>\n
“Combined with the summit temperature, this put the wind chill somewhere in the region of -15C to -20C, making any exposed skin sting almost instantly.”<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Pic: MoD\/Crown Copyright\/PA<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n To speed things up, two of the Dutch marines took hold of the climber’s arms on either side to support him.<\/p>\n This improved his stability, but the awkward spacing led to several crampons being knocked loose, forcing multiple short halts to resecure them.<\/p>\n C\/Sgt McKenzie added: “During the final stop to fix a crampon, his deterioration became unmistakable. His posture sagged, his coordination faltered, and his responses slowed.<\/p>\n “Then he said he couldn’t bend his leg, a clear sign that cold, exhaustion, and exposure were now affecting his physical functions.<\/p>\n “He was entering hypothermia, and it was obvious he would not be walking in the immediate future.”<\/p>\n The marines created an improvised stretcher using a bivvy sack, ropes, a mat and a jacket, bringing the climber down the mountain to safety.<\/p>\n “If we hadn’t seen him, he certainly would not have survived,” said Sergeant Onno Lankhaar, section commander for the Dutch marines.<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News: Image:
Asylum seeker jailed for murdering hotel worker<\/a>
Men arrested over 60m-long mountain of waste<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Pic:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/skynews-ben-nevis-marines-dutch_7150455.jpg\")
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\n Pic: MoD\/Crown Copyright\/PA<\/p>\n