Four climbers hit by a “huge tsunami” of snow when they were caught in an avalanche on Ben Nevis said they did not believe they would survive the experience.
Kevin Finlon, Chris Butler, James Byrne and Anthony Bourne, all aged 49, were swept around a thousand feet down the 4,409ft peak.
They have thanked the rescue services who went to their assistance following their scare close to the summit of the UK’s highest mountain.
Rescue 137 helicopter from Prestwick took members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team to the scene, but incredibly the men all managed to walk away from their terrifying ordeal.
Mr Butler, who was uninjured, said: “We were going up Gully No 4. There was a huge cornice and there were some people trying to come down.
“All of a sudden, it just collapsed. I tried to duck down, but it was like a huge tsunami wave and it threw me right over.
“I was flat on my back on the snow with my head down. I had my ice axe and thought I’d managed to get myself into the ice axe arrest position, but it got ripped out of my hand.
“I got flipped over again and thought ‘this is it’.”
He added that they slid and tumbled almost the full length of the gully and were amazed to discover they were all able to walk away following the avalanche on January 4.
Mr Finlon, who badly sprained both his ankles, said: “I just thought it was all over.
“I thought if I got out alive I would at least be disabled because I felt my legs touching the back of my head.
“It just went dark then you would see a bit of light. Then you felt like you were being crushed.
“About half way down, I was aware James was beside me because he had a red coat on, then I lost sight of him and I was on my own.”
He added that he had since e-mailed the rescue services to thank them for turning out.
Mr Finlon said: “Although we walked out, it was reassuring to see them coming to help us.
“We didn’t even know anyone had raised the alarm.”
The group, all from the Gillingham area of Kent, had been climbing with a local guide. They were training for a trip to south America to climb 22,837ft Aconcagua at the end of this month and are still planning to make the trip.
The other two members of the team also escaped without serious injury. Mr Bourne suffered a leg injury and Mr Byrne had slight neck pain.