The world-renowned climber, from Aberdeenshire, was returning from a hike to the top of Pakistan's Broad Peak - the world's 12th highest mountain at 26,401ft.
He slipped from an ice cliff and the alarm was raised when a base camp cook spotted the Scotsman's rucksack on the mountainside.
Polish mountaineer Bartek Bargiel and brother Andrzej deployed their high-tech drone DJI Mavic Pro to locate the British climber.