Climber bootless up Mont Blanc

A CLIMBER had to be rescued by helicopter after a thief stole his boots, leaving him stranded nearly 4,000m up France’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc.

The 48-year-old was stuck at the Gouter refuge, just a few hundred metres from the Alpine mountain’s summit.

Descending the mountain would have meant several hours walking through the snow along a dangerous route to the tram terminus at Nid d’Aigle, 2,372m above sea level.

"When we find people in that situation, we extract them by helicopter. We were not going to leave him in his socks. It's dangerous," said Jean-Baptiste Estachy, of Chamonix’s mountain rescue.

Photo: jespahjoy