Climber found dead in France

An Irish climber was found dead yesterday in Gavarnie de Pierrefitte-Nestalas, in the French Pyrenees, during a routine patrol…

An Irish climber was found dead yesterday in Gavarnie de Pierrefitte-Nestalas, in the French Pyrenees, during a routine patrol, according to a local police report. The body of Mr Thomas Fields (44), from Dublin, was taken by helicopter from an altitude of 9,000 ft on a glacier face.

The victim, who had been dead for three or four days, had fallen some 500 ft, police said. According to police, Mr Fields had begun his trek with a friend but the two had split up when they wanted to take separate routes.