Walker Paul Brett saves own life with ice pick moments before taking UK Mountain Photo of the Year winning shot

Paul Brett wins Trail Magazine’s UK Mountain Photo of the Year with risky shot

A walker has spoken off the moment he almost died moments before taking a prize-winning photograph of Ben Nevis.

Paul Brett from Edinburgh, won Trail Magazine’s 2015 UK Mountain Photo of the Year with his shot of UK's highest mountain.

Number four in the top 10, Tryfan by Greg Whitton (Greg Whitton)

Mr Brett said he took a pause from walking to take the shot before rejoining his friend on their ascent to the peak.

But while still making their way up to the top, Mr Brett slipped, and had to use his ice axe to avoid a potentially deadly slide down the peak.

He told Trail magazine: “It was a perfect spring day with no wind. After cresting the summit of Carn Dearg Meadhonach we were rewarded with this amazing view.

“My friend was already heading up Carn Mor Dearg, which really helped give an amazing sense of scale to the scene. I had to use the pick of my ice axe to stop myself sliding down the mountain on the push to the summit of Ben Nevis, which was very scary at the time – but it was good to know I had the knowledge to do what was needed.”

The image also shows Ben Nevis’ neighbouring peak, Carn Mor Dearg, and beat over 500 other entrants.

9th in the competition, Glyder Fawr by Robin Shaw (Robin Shaw)

Other images in the top 10 included shots taken in the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Isle of Skye.