Updated 7.36 pm

THE TWO IRISHMEN killed in an accident on one of Europe’s highest mountains have been named as Peter Britton and Colm Ennis.

The two climbers are believed to have fallen from a section of the Mont Blanc mountain range in France known as Dent du Geant yesterday.

The two men, who had many years climbing experience, had gone out together yesterday afternoon and fell at around 4pm local time.

They were spotted falling from some distance and the alarm was raised. Charmonix mountain rescue were dispatched within minutes, arriving on scene in a rescue helicopter.

However, both men had died instantly from the fall and were pronounced dead on the scene by a doctor on board the helicopter.

The family of Peter Britton have this evening said that they are “shocked and saddened by the tragic accident”.

In a statement released through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the family say that the accident happened when the men were making the descent from the summit of Mont Blanc:

Our thoughts are also with the family of his climbing partner, Colm Ennis. Peter and Colm were firm friends and had many years experience as an Alpine climbing team, and their loss is an unspeakable tragedy. Peter’s family would be grateful for privacy in dealing with the loss of a loving husband and father.

- Additional reporting by Rónán Duffy