A MOUNTAINEER who defied death when he plunged fifty feet down an icy peak in Snowdonia has been reliving his amazing escape for Star readers.

Experienced climber Alan Renshall, 23, was tackling sharp-ridged Tryfan with St Helens pals Jason Lloyd and Simon Fletcher when a surreal sequence of events unfolded - starting with them rescuing an American tourist with a false leg - and so nearly ending in tragedy.

Alan, a qualified outdoor pursuits instructor, survived the fall through a combination of luck and the help of his heroic mates.

Recovering at home in Thatto Heath he explained what happened: "It was midday, we were about 3000 feet above sea level, climbing at the right hand side of a waterfall.

"We noticed a bloke waving to us so we made our way over to him, he shouted to ask if we were mountain rescue. He was wearing a suit and tie - not the clothing for someone climbing a mountain in winter and amazingly he had a prosthetic leg."

55-year-old Bill Wynn, a disabled American tourist, had started climbing the mountain but had slipped and become stranded. The St Helens trio came to his aid, and a few minutes later the RAF Sea King helicopter - who Mr Wynn had phoned - arrived and rescued him.

Mr Wynn's 'rescue' was featured in the national press the next day but these reports omitted the subsequent drama involving Alan, Jason and Simon.

Jason, 26 and from Sutton Leach, takes up the story: "As the helicopter moved away from the mountain the tremendous down draught from its rotor blades caused Alan to lose his footing. He tumbled 50 feet and crashed down the ice, landing against jagged rocks.

"We honestly thought Alan was dead - but after five minutes he came around. We waved the helicopter away because he said it would be okay. It must have been adrenaline though as the pain set in minutes later."

Jason and Simon bravely hauled their pal down the mountain. But rather than going to a hospital nearby they made Alan comfortable in the back of their car and drove back to Whiston Hospital!

He suffered injuries to his back, neck and shoulder - remarkably though he did not break a bone.

Alan said: "The doctors x-rayed me thirteen times but there were no broken bones. They kept on doing the x-rays because they thought the swelling was hiding the injuries.

"But they couldn't find anything and were amazed."

Alan, who works in Haydock as a residential social worker, spent a week in hospital and is now at home where special equipment has been fitted to help him get around the house.

He will undergo intensive physiotherapy to help him regain his balance and coordination.