Bristol University student, 22, becomes second climber to die on Ben Nevis in two weeks after she plunged 500ft in horror New Year's Day fall Climber was on the Ridge Route when she slipped down the mountain and died Student from Bristol University died but three friends with her have survived Patrick Boothroyd, 21, was scaling Tower Gully when he fell and died last month Do you know the woman who died? Email martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter For Mailonline Published: 10:06 GMT, 2 January 2019 | Updated: 13:20 GMT, 2 January 2019 30 shares 47 Viewcomments A Bristol University student has died after a 500ft 'horrific' fall down Ben Nevis on New Year's Day - the second death there in a fortnight, it was revealed today. The female climber, 22, who has not yet been named, was on the Ridge Route between the summit of neighbouring Carn Dearg and Ben Nevis on a climb with three others. But at around 3300ft up she slipped on ice and fell down the mountain to her death. Her friends, also studying at Bristol University, were stuck on the ridge above and later helped down by a mountain rescue team. Cardiff University student Patrick Boothroyd, 21, died on Britain's tallest mountain in December after tumbling 1,500ft when a ledge of snow collapsed, but his friend Leo Grabowski miraculously survived. |The unnamed woman died crossing a ridge connecting Ben Nevis (pictured left) with the summit of neighbouring Carn Mor Dearg (right of picture) Cardiff University student Patrick Boothroyd, 21, (left) died on Britain's tallest mountain last month but his friend Leo Grabowski (right) miraculously survived the same 1,500ft fall Describing today's tragedy John Stevenson, leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, said: 'The rocks are very icy at the moment and where she slipped there was an almost vertical drop of 500ft. 'It is hard to say but she would have stood little or no chance. It is a very rocky drop too. She would have gone straight down. It would have been a horrific fall to happen where it did. 'The conditions are icy and very cold at the moment. She was with a group of four university students from down south. 'The other three - I think two men and a woman - were stuck on the route and were clearly very shocked.' A coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Inverness airlifted members of the mountain rescue team to recover the woman's body. It also managed to extract the other climbers off Ben Nevis. 'The helicopter did a magnificent job. The cloud cleared enough to allow it to get in - but it was a difficult job,' said Mr Stevenson. 'We witnessed another example of exceptional flying getting the team into location to evacuate the casualty and in recovering her colleagues from a very difficult location. 'Our thoughts and condolences are with the young woman's family and friends. It is very sad start to 2019.' Patrick Boothroyd, 21, pictured in the Dolomites in September, died after snow collapsed on Ben Nevis in December, sending him 1,500ft down the mountain He was near the top of Tower Gully on Sunday, 16 December, with a friend and co-climber in his 20s, when an overhanging ledge of snow collapsed on them on Ben Nevis, Scotland The woman is the first to die on Scotland's mountains this year. The tragedy comes only two weeks after the death of another young climber on Ben Nevis. Cardiff University students Patrick Boothroyd and Leo Grabowski were scaling Tower Gully on the 4,413ft peak on December 16 when a ledge of snow collapsed, causing them to fall 1,00ft. Mr Boothroyd, 21, suffered a serious head injury while Mr Grabowski survived the fall with only broken bones. Despite being dazed and disoriented, the 28-year-old immediately rang 999 and did his best to help his friend. He covered him with a survival bag and huddled next to him, shielding him from the snow and wind. They were rescued after an hour but Mr Boothroyd could not be saved. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility