A Merseyside man died after plunging 200m down a mountain while out walking with a friend.
Robert Pascoe, a 24-year-old decorated RAF engineer from Thornton, fell on Friday while he was walking with Adam Cowsley on Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England and the Lake District.
His mum, Karyn said: “He was extraordinary. He had been in the RAF since he was 17 and he was going on to join the Marines. He just went on and on and on to the next challenge. He just lived life to the full and took everything by the horns.
“He’s crammed more into his life than most people have in a whole lifetime.”
Robert, 24, also leaves behind dad Robert and brothers Lee, 37, and Joe, 23.
Mr Cowsley found him unconscious, but because there was no mobile phone signal, he could not immediately raise the alarm.
He instead went down the mountain to Grisedale, where a local farmer gave him a lift to nearby Patterdale so he could get help.
An RAF Sea King helicopter, the Great North Air Ambulance, search and rescue dogs and mountain rescue teams from Patterdale and Penrith searched for Robert but his injuries were found to be fatal.
The operation lasted for more than four hours.
Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) reported that Robert fell from Striding Edge, one of the ridges that lead off the summit, into Nethermost Cove.
Mike Blakey, leader of the Patterdale MRT, said: “This is a tragic incident involving the loss of a young life. Our thoughts are with the young man’s walking companion, friends and family at this difficult time.”
Robert was just a week away from joining the Marines after completing four tours in Afghanistan.
He received an Operation Service Medal from Prince Charles when he was 19 because of his willingness to go above and beyond.