British climber dies on Mont Blanc

A British climber has died in an avalanche on the treacherous mountain Mont Blanc, French police disclosed yesterdayday. Alistair Crookes, 39, of Castle Bytham, Lincolnshire, was one of a five-person British team attempting an ascent of the so-called "cursed mountain" on Monday morning.

Three of his companions were slightly injured and were treated at nearby Chamonix hospital after being airlifted from the mountain by helicopter, while the fifth climber escaped unhurt, said a spokesman for Chamonix mountain police.

Mr Crookes is at least the third British climber to die on Mont Blanc this summer.

Mr Crookes's party came to grief at a height of about 10,500 feet on the Grand Mallet route up the 15,600 feet peak.