A climber from England has died after being caught in an avalanche in the West Highlands, despite his companion managing to walk out to raise the alarm.

The two men had come north from Suffolk and were described as experienced winter climbers who were well equipped.

Police were alerted on Friday night that two men who had undertaken a climb in Coireag Dubh Mor on the famous Torridon mountain Liathach (3,461 ft) were overdue.

Torridon Mountain Rescue Team was alerted and air assistance was provided by Stornoway Coastguard Helicopter, but weather conditions made a searching difficult. However efforts to find the men resumed on Saturday.

One of the climbers was traced in the early afternoon, walking out to seek help for his companion. He revealed that both had been avalanched. His companion was subsequently traced, but did not survive.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service blog for Friday said: "It was difficult to see much above 800m, but plenty drifting of snow lower down in the strong Northerly winds. There was also significant snowfall down to around 300m with sleet and rain below this height. Cornices were forming above snow drifts in stream beds. This is the most snow we have seen in Torridon so far this year."

Torridon MRT team posted a note on its website: "One of the climbers managed to walk out today after spending the night on the hill to raise the team for assistance but sadly the other climber was found fatally injured this afternoon after being avalanched the previous day. Many thanks to CG R100 (the helicopter crew) and Police Scotland for their assistance and a good team effort by all involved. Our thoughts are now with the family and friends of the climber."

Police Scotland said that the names of the climbers were not being released.

Meanwhile a climber from Scotland has died while trying to conquer a famous mountain in the Andes on Saturday.

Roger Cookson, 58, who is understood to be from Aberdeenshire, fell ill as he tried to scale the 22,837ft Aconcagua mountain in Argentina with a friend and a local guide.They were just 1,640ft from the summit when he suffered respiratory failure.

The guide alerted rescuers who reached them at the refuge and carried Mr Cookson's body to a nearby camp after failing to revive him.

It was understood to be Mr Cookson's first attempt to climb the mountain, the highest outside of Asia and one of the so-called Seven Summits, the highest mountains of each of the seven continents.

Mr Cookson is thought to be from the Banchory area and an associate member of the Cairngorm Club. The Aberdeen-based organisation is the oldest climbing club in Scotland.

He and his companions were hoping to reach Plaza de Mulas base camp, the campsite where most of the treks to the summit start from, on Saturday night.

A spokesman for Lanko, the trekking firm which organised the trip, said: "He was an experienced mountaineer and in good health. He didn't have any illnesses."

The mountain is considered to be an easy mountain from a technical point of view, however several people die every year trying. Climbers are advised to acclimatise to minimise the effects of altitude sickness.

Around 60 per cent of those that attempt the climb succeed. Three-quarters are foreigners, with Americans , Germans and Britons leading the way.

Five men, four Italians and an Argentine guide, lost their lives on Aconcagua in January 2009 after being caught in a storm shortly after reaching the summit.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Argentina and stand ready to provide consular assistance to the family."