Severe injuries claimed the life of a Canmore ice climber yesterday, after he fell more than 30 metres off a mountain ledge. Little could be done to save the experienced climber despite his valiant fight for life, emergency workers said.

"His will to live was amazing, but he did succumb to his injuries later in the day," said Golden RCMP Const. Mitch Mercier.

The fallen climber, 32-year-old Brent Raymond of Canmore, was approaching the Carlsberg Column route of Mount Dennis, near the town of Field, B.C.

The climb was barely underway when he lost his footing shortly after 9 a.m.

"He fell about 35 metres off an exposed ledge," said Parks Canada spokeswoman Michelle Macullo.

Raymond's climbing partner, who is also from Canmore, rushed to his unconscious friend's side.

When he saw the extent of his injuries, the surviving climber ran to a nearby visitor's centre in Field, where he called for help.

Wardens and emergency officials were unable to save him.

Australian-born Raymond was employed as a part-time guide by Yamnuska Inc., a Canmore-based mountaineering school. He also operated his own business, Alpine Wild Mountain Adventures, which has led expeditions to locations such as the Peruvian Andes, Mexico and Mount Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo.