A CLIMBER broke down in tears as he relived an accident which killed his friend.

Roy Townsend, of Pleckgate, Blackburn, described the incident in the French Alps during an inquest into the death of mountaineer Freddie Snalam.

Mr Snalam, 55, and Mr Townsend were caught in an avalanche as they tackled an ice climb near the area of Chamonix. Mr Townsend sustained chest injuries in the accident.

He told the court he had known Mr Snalam since 1969. They lost contact and met up again in the early 1990s.

On March 11 they set off for the climb and the weather conditions were good. Mr Snalam took the first pitch putting ice screws in. They were tied together. He said the ice was 'excellent' and the climb was 'quite entertaining.'

He said Mr Snalam started climbing a 70 to 80 degree ramp and he moved on to an opposite platform so he did not get hit with debris.

"The clear blue sky suddenly went grey and black," said Mr Townsend. He said he knew it was an avalanche. "There were no temples of snow -- there was no warning at all. I just knew."

He said he flattened himself on the ground and the avalanche went over him. "I got lifted up by the air rush," he said

"I was thrown over the lip, which probably saved my life. I was hanging against a vertical wall of ice. My arm was trapped behind the rope and I was hanging over a drop,"

He said he managed to right himself after five or six attempts. The massive avalanche was seen by a mountain police employee. Mr Townsend said he was rescued by a helicopter and taken to hospital where he spent six days with broken ribs, a broken nose and other injuries.

A post mortem revealed Mr Snalam died from asphixiation due to being buried by the snow. He had no major physical injuries.

Recording an accidental death verdict, County Coroner Mr Howard McCann said: "What you have told is a very dramatic story with tragic consequences. Freddie was an adventurous man. It may be some irony he died in this way."

Mr Snalam then said: "Freddie died doing what he loved in the company of his best friend."

Mr Snalam lived in Bolder, Colorado, but still has family in the Preston area.

His cousin, police officer Derek Snalam, told the inquest Freddie was a mountaineer of some repute. Mountaineering was his passion and he wrote various articles for differed publications.