Funeral Held For Climbers Killed On Ben Nevis

7 April 2016, 06:13

A funeral has been held for a Leicestershire climber and his girlfriend who died on Ben Nevis.

The couple, Rachel Slater, 24 and Tim Newton, 27, who was originally from Leicester, were laid to rest together in Glen Nevis near to Britain's highest peak.

Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, who led the searches for the couple, were pallbearers at the private service in Fort William on Wednesday.

In a statement posted on the team's Facebook page, they said: ``There was a small private funeral for Tim and Rachel in Fort William. Following a service at the Duncansburgh Church, the young couple were laid to rest together in Glen Nevis in the shadow of Ben Nevis.

``The team were honoured to be asked by the families to act as pallbearers. Two pipers from the team also played the lament which provided an emotional farewell. RIP Tim and Rachel.''

The experienced climbers, who lived in Bradford, West Yorkshire, were reported missing on February 15 after failing to return from a climb on Ben Nevis.

Following extensive searches, often hampered by hazardous weather and avalanche risks, their bodies were found more than five weeks later on March 23.

They were found by a member of the public and carried off the mountain by members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.