 Shortest-independent-vector basis lemma

In a rank-two Euclidean lattice, a shortest nonzero vector $v$ and a shortest vector $w\notin \mathbb{Z}v$ form a basis. The shortest vector is primitive. If the vertical coordinate of $w$ has index $m\ge 2$ in the projection lattice, a vector with smaller positive vertical coordinate can be reduced horizontally to length squared at most $(|v{|}^2+|w{|}^2)/4<|w{|}^2$, a contradiction. This lemma need not hold in higher rank.