A CLIMBER killed in an avalanche on Ben Nevis has been named as a teacher at a Bristol school.
Police Scotland and the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team were alerted of the incident around 3.35pm on December 30.
A helicopter was sent to the mountain's number two gully to help two male climbers in the area but Mark Bessell, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other man, 40, was taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William for treatment.
Weather conditions made the callout "challenging" and it took eight hours for the 40-year-old to be brought to the hospital.
Richard Uffendell, headteacher of Ashton Park School, paid tribute to the "well-respected and long-standing member of staff" who sadly died in the accident.
A letter sent to parents and carers read: "Mark will be deeply missed by us all as he has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many students, staff, families and the wider communities, but he will never be forgotten."
Bessell, a veteran of the Gloucestershire Regiment, is survived by his wife Charlie who also works at the school.
The former soldier also ran the school's Adventure Club and organised Duke of Edinburgh and Ten Tors trips.
Uffendell added: "Our thoughts are with Mark Bessell’s family at this time, especially his wife Charlie who also works at Ashton Park School as head of science.
"We are in contact with Charlie and are following her wishes and respecting her privacy.
"We will be in touch in due course with details of how our school and community will pay tribute to Mark’s life and continue the outstanding work he led within outdoor education."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here