Daredevil achieves incredible ice climbing feat as winter grips Britain - The Mirror

Pictures show climber Mick Ellerton, 48, scaling the icy waterfall at Gordale Scar, near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales after temperatures dropped well below freezing

A man has scaled a stunning frozen waterfall in a national park as Britain continues to shiver under chilly Arctic conditions.

Mick Ellerton, 48, climbed the waterfall in Gordale Scar, near Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales on Wednesday, after temperatures dropped so low it froze over.

The impressive feat comes ahead of a 'multi-hazard' salvo of severe snow and 90mph winds set to be unleashed by Storm Goretti on Thursday, with Met Office issuing a wave of weather warnings across the country.

Heavy snowfall has already led to thousands of school closures this week, and has even cut off some remote communities in the north.

Mr Ellerton said the “stunning” Yorkshire Dales is quieter than tourist hotspots such as the Peak District and described the national park as “absolutely beautiful”.

Speaking of his trek up the icy waterfall, he said: “I’ve done it probably three times in the last six years. So it very rarely comes into (the right) condition.”

Mr Ellerton is an instructor at Lost Earth Adventures, where he runs rock climbing and caving sessions, and a volunteer for a cave rescue charity.

Born in Australia, he began ice climbing as a child and now lives in the North Yorkshire town of Skipton.

He joined a colleague on a climb at the frozen waterfall on Tuesday, before returning to scale it again on Wednesday.

“There are different sections where you don’t want to go,” Mr Ellerton, who regularly climbs the area in the summer, said. “That comes from experience of knowing what you’re looking for.”

As well as getting enjoyment from mountain climbing, Mr Ellerton said the activity helps maintain the skills needed to take part in rescues with the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

He said: “It gives me that joy of being out, we call it that ‘type one fun’, when we’re out on the mountains. But it also helps to keep my skills fresh for mountain rescue and the work I do.”

While Mr Ellerton said he would never discourage anyone from exploring the countryside, he added that it is important to do it safely and with the correct equipment.

“It’s about being hill smart. It’s great for your physical and mental health, and it’s an awesome place to be. As long as people are getting out there safely, I’m all for it,” he said.

Ahead of Storm Goretti's arrival on Thursday, Met Office Chief Forecaster Neil Armstrong warned that the "most significant impacts from snow" will be felt in "parts of Wales and the Midlands", while rain and strong winds also "have the potential to bring disruption to many" in other parts of the country.