The men had been climbing in the Cairngorms in November

Richard Hardy, 18, from Alton, Hampshire, was part of a group of 10 from Aberdeen University Climbing Club in November last year.

The hearing at Alton Magistrates' Court recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Hardy perished along with fellow student Graeme Cooper, 23, from Aberdeen.

The inquest was told that Mr Hardy was in the last pair to go climbing in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the mountain range.

He was overcome by the weather conditions and died from hypothermia Coroner Andrew Bradley

North Hampshire coroner, Andrew Bradley, said that Mr Hardy was not an experienced climber but he was a keen walker. He was also not as well-equipped as the others for the climb.

The inquest heard that the other pairs made it back to the Cairngorm Ski Area car park as the weather worsened with temperatures plunging to minus 20C and 70mph winds.

The group went back to base nearby at 1830 GMT on 19 November.

'Very strong'

When Mr Hardy and Mr Cooper had not returned by 2230 GMT and there was no response on the men's mobile phones they called out rescue groups.

Both men were found dead the next day just 10 minutes' walk from the car park.

Mr Bradley said Mr Hardy was found "frozen, unresponsive and unrousable".

The climbers were airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness

The pair were airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but could not be saved.

Mr Hardy's father David told the inquest his son was "very, very strong" and had competed in triathlon competitions and recently passed the Royal Marines officer physical test.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Bradley said: "He was overcome by the weather conditions and died from hypothermia."

Mr Hardy was a first year student studying for an MA in geography, and Mr Cooper had graduated in July with an MA in the same subject.

A minute's silence was held for the two climbers at the university last year.

Aberdeen University sports teams taking part in rugby, football, tennis and hockey observed the silence as a mark of respect.