An inquiry has been launched into the tragic death of a former Angus marine on New Zealand’s highest mountain.
Gary Francis, 44, who served with 45 Commando in Arbroath and has family in the town, fell 40 metres down a crevasse to his death during a training exercise on Mount Cook.
Sergeant Francis, of the Australian Army’s 2nd Commando Regiment, was leading a group of soldiers on a two-week mountain and cold weather survival exercise when tragedy struck.
The Courier can reveal that all cold weather training for special forces troops has now been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Up to 20 commandos from 2nd Commando Regiment were due to undertake extreme cold weather training during two exercises between today and August 5 and August 28 and September 5.
Sgt Francis would have been an instructor on the cancelled courses designed to provide the soldiers with “skills to move, fight and survive in a mountainous, rugged and cold weather environment”.
They would have operated on skis and on foot and were to be taught how to build and survive in ice caves and igloos.
Sgt Francis was described as the world’s best mountain warfare expert and his family have been left searching for answers.
He died on the mountain’s Grand Plateau when ice gave way and he fell into the deep crevasse.
Wife Diane, 45, was back in Scotland with mother-in-law Joan Paterson when she received the terrible news, having made a mercy dash to her sick dad Sylvester’s bedside at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Diane had only just arrived from the couple’s home in Australia but was immediately forced to fly back with sister Sylvia to arrange the funeral.
Mrs Paterson, who lives in Arbroath, told The Courier she was “devastated” but said she did not wish to comment on the inquiry into her son-in-law’s death.
Sgt Francis and Diane met in Arbroath when he was based at RM Condor. They married in 1989 and eventually emigrated to Sydney with their two sons Scott and Brent.
Sgt Francis loved all outdoor activities and regularly posted videos of his action-packed trips on YouTube.
A seven-minute video posted six months ago shows that in 2013 the adventurer took part in caving, skiing, rock climbing, kitesurfing, skydiving, paragliding and dirt biking.
Australian Defence Force officials described Sgt Francis as highly qualified and experienced in alpine and altitude activities.
In 2003 he was part of a trekking team that reached the summit of Mount Everest. In 2006 he tried again as part of an army expedition aiming to become the first British climbers to scale the mountain via the west ridge. However, they were forced back by treacherous conditions.
Australian special forces troops often conduct cold weather and alpine training in the New Zealand Alps.
The area is a dangerous environment and seven people were killed on the mountain last year.