Ian Jackson: “Climbing’s My Demon And My Cure” British Mountaineer Dies In Tragic Fall Near Mont Blanc
Posted by Jason A. Hendricks on August 8, 2008 |
British mountaineer and famed rock climber, Ian Jackson, has been killed in what authorities are calling a “technical mistake” while abseiling a rock face near the foot of Mont Blanc. The 19 year-old climber had been climbing on the Les Gaillands crag near Chamonix when the 160ft fall occurred. Ian Jackson was airlifted to a hospital in Geneva, Switzerland but died en route.
Ian Jackson was an experienced rock climber and mountaineer having spent time climbing in North Wales, New Zealand, and the Alps. He had made big climbs of both Highcliffe Nab in Gouisborough and Ben Nevis. He was also a frequent climbing partner of famed high altitude climber Alan Hinkes.
In recent articles of both, the U.K Gazette and The Telgraph, Ian Jackson is looked upon as a highly daring adventurer, but also someone who was very technically stable. His death has shocked his family and his hundreds of friends and fans around the world.
Ian is believed to have been on a recent break from school and was vacationing with two friends.
From the GazetteLive:
A police spokesman said Mr Jackson’s friends were watching from below as he abseiled down the 80-metre rock face at 4pm yesterday.
“When he was abseiling down, one of the guys made a big technical mistake and he fell,” he said.
“When you abseil you must take two ropes and he only took one rope.”
Ian Jackson is survived by his mother and father, two sisters and two brothers.
Let’s keep all of them in our thoughts and prayers.