Death-fall climbers were posing for photographs

Two British climbers who were killed after falling into a ravine had stopped on a ledge to pose for photographs, French police said yesterday.

Mark Haseler and Clare Kempster, both in their thirties, plunged 3,000ft from the Aiguille Bionassy on the French-Italian border of Europe's highest peak on Monday.

The pair were roped together and posing for the picture when Ms Kempster leaned over a snow-covered ledge to stop her rucksack sliding down the mountainside. She slipped over the edge pulling the Mr Haseler with her.

The third member of the group had untied himself to take the picture and escaped unharmed along with three other members of the climbing group - thought to include other members of the London-based Rock Hoppers club.

Marc Dubrulle, of the Chamonix mountain police, said: "There were three British climbers roped together as they made their way up Mont Blanc. They reached a ridge, with Italy on one side and France on the other, where there is a very beautiful view, and they apparently decided to get a photograph of themselves with the view in the background.

"One of them released himself from the rope, and the other two stepped back for the photo.

"At this point, the woman lost her rucksack, and it started sliding down the slope. She tried to catch on to it and fell, pulling the other climber with her. I believe that they were killed immediately."

The deaths are among the first this year on the 15,000ft glacial peak which is known as "the accursed mountain" by locals.

Andy MacNae of the British Mountaineering Council, of which the Mountain Hoppers is a member, said: "You could say this was a freak accident. It is quite a straightforward climb for experienced mountaineers but like any mountain it is a very serious place to be."