Piers Gill, seen from the Corridor Route. Photo: Kenneth Yarham CC-BY-SA-2.0

A man has died on England’s highest mountain.

The body of the 19-year-old from the Matlock area in Derbyshire was found by mountain rescuers on Scafell Pike at about 11.45am today, Saturday.

The man set off with a friend from the campsite at Wasdale Head yesterday, Friday, for the ascent of the mountain but the pair became separated on the Corridor Route in bad weather on the descent.

A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet in Ayrshire joined members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, Duddon and Furness Mountain Team and animals and handlers from Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs in a major operation on the mountain last night. An RAF mountain rescue team also joined the search.

But Inspector Tim Ward of Cumbria Constabulary said the search was suspended at 11.15pm last night due to atrocious weather conditions on the 978m (3,209ft) fell.

Rescuers resumed their search for the man, believed to be an accomplished fellrunner, at 8am today, but the helicopter was unable to access the upper reaches of the mountain due to low cloud.

Insp Ward said: “Sadly, the rescuers found the body of the young lad in the Piers Gill area.

“They then brought his body down to Wasdale Head.”

The inspector said the man was dressed appropriately for the conditions and there were no suspicious circumstances.