AN experienced climber died after falling from a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, an inquest heard.

Preston Coroner's Court heard Suhail Rokadiya fell after losing his footing on a climb with two friends.

The 38-year-old, from Blackburn, suffered serious neck and chest injuries after plummeting down a steep incline on the 1,102-metre high hill.

The inquest was told he was free climbing and not using safety ropes.

A mountain rescue team was called to Stob Coire Nam Beith, Glencoe, but the climber was pronounced dead inside the rescue helicopter on September 22.

Mr Rokadiya, who was living in Glasgow at the time of the accident, was described by friends as an accomplished climber who had more than 15 years' experience.

The inquest heard Mr Rokadiya had been out mountaineering on the Munro, a mountain over 3,000ft, with two close friends and would frequently climb without ropes and other equipment.

Although the climb seemed challenging to the mountaineers they did not think it was "difficult enough to worry about".

Miles Gould, who was with Mr Rokadiya during the climb, said in a written statement: "We'd gone out that day intending to solo which is common practice on routes of that grade. We'd brought the rope and rack mainly as backup.

We put our helmets on to protect against rockfall, and put our harnesses on because if the climbing later got awkward enough for us to decide to get the rope out, it would probably also be too awkward for us to put our harnesses on at the time.

"The climbing was difficult enough to be engaging, but not difficult enough to be worrying.

"Suhail was the most technically able climber in our group and did not seem to have any difficulty.

"I was a few metres ahead of Suhail. He had been reaching up with his right foot for a high foothold when his left foot slipped."

"I saw him fall about five metres before he hit a rock and then continued falling.

"I down climbed and ran to Suhail who didn't respond when I tried CPR.

"We called a mountain rescue team and a helicopter arrived but he was pronounced dead inside the helicopter."

The medical cause of death was determined as neck and chest injuries by Dr Natasha Ingus, who carried out the post-mortem.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Richard Taylor said: "Suhail died on Stob Coire Nam Beith from injuries sustained in a fall whilst mountaineering."