A former Royal Marine has died after being struck by a large rock while climbing in the French Alps.



Duncan Potts, 28, was climbing the Dent du Géant mountain in the Mont Blanc range near Chamonix on Wednesday with his friend Luke Stevens. A rock came loose in his hands and Potts fell about three metres, the Telegraph reported.

The rock hit him on the head and shoulders and, despite a mountain rescue team sending a helicopter after Stevens managed to call for help, Potts died at the scene. Rescuer commandant Stéphane Bozon said the rock had been “as big as a car boot” and that Potts appeared to have died instantly.

The accident happened on the pair’s first day of a planned four-day climb. Potts, from Coldridge in Devon, was an experienced rock climber and mountaineer and climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland last summer.

He had recently left the Royal Marines and last month got engaged to April Lawson, an equine vet. She wrote on her Facebook profile: “You are my soulmate Mr Potts and I was so lucky to find you. People go their whole lives not meeting their one true love. I’m truly grateful for the time we had together. My kindhearted, handsome gentleman.

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“You made me the happiest girl in the world in Rome when you asked me to marry you. I will treasure our memories and my beautiful engagement ring forever.”

Andy Potts, his younger brother, said on Facebook: “I’m still struggling to come to terms with the fact that my big brother is no longer with us. Duncan had such an incredible group of friends and you all made his life so fun filled and special and I want to thank every one of you for being such an important part of his life.”

His sister, Izzie Potts, wrote: “All our hearts are well and truly broken without you, Duncan.”

Col Kevin Oliver of the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon, paid tribute to Potts on behalf of his former colleagues. He said: “We knew him as a fine young man who was a credit to the service, who left having achieved much in his career. The thoughts and sympathies of those that knew him go out to his family and friends.”

The Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance to his family.