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Scout climber dies in avalanche | Scout climber dies in avalanche |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A teenage Scout leader has been killed in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands while on an organised trip. | A teenage Scout leader has been killed in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands while on an organised trip. |
Stephen Young, 18, from Kent, was airlifted to hospital in Fort William from Creag Meagaidh in Inverness-shire but he was pronounced dead on arrival. | Stephen Young, 18, from Kent, was airlifted to hospital in Fort William from Creag Meagaidh in Inverness-shire but he was pronounced dead on arrival. |
The Scout Association said he was part of "an experienced, all-adult group", which also included his mother. | |
Mr Young slept in a tent in his garden for a whole year in 2007 to raise money for a local children's hospice. | |
It is not known whether Mr Young triggered the avalanche in a fall, but police say they are investigating. No-one else is thought to have been injured. | |
Charity sleep-out | |
Simon Carter, for the Scout Association, said Mr Young was a trustee of Kent Scout County. | Simon Carter, for the Scout Association, said Mr Young was a trustee of Kent Scout County. |
"Stephen was part of an experienced, all-adult group who were in Cairngorms as part of their annual trip to the region to expand their winter hill walking skills," he said. | |
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephen's family and friends at this very sad time." | |
He would not comment on the whereabouts of Mr Young's mother at the time of the incident. | |
Mr Young was in a group of seven other adults, who were walking along a ridge when the accident happened. A total of 24 scout leaders were on the expedition. | |
He had been a scout from the age of six, and he raised almost £2,500 for charity by spending the whole of 2007 camped out in the garden of his home in Borough Green near Sevenoaks. | |
Avalanche risk | Avalanche risk |
It is understood members of Kinder Mountain Rescue Team, based in the Peak District, were in the area on exercise when the avalanche happened and raised the alarm. | It is understood members of Kinder Mountain Rescue Team, based in the Peak District, were in the area on exercise when the avalanche happened and raised the alarm. |
An RAF helicopter and rescue teams were called to the area, between Spean Bridge and Newtonmore, at about 1450 GMT. | |
A Sea King rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was sent to the scene along with Lochaber and Kinloss Mountain Rescue teams. | |
A police spokesman said: "Mountain rescue personnel are satisfied that there are no other persons outstanding, and there are no reports of any other persons having suffered injury." | A police spokesman said: "Mountain rescue personnel are satisfied that there are no other persons outstanding, and there are no reports of any other persons having suffered injury." |
A report on the incident will be sent to the procurator fiscal at Fort William. | A report on the incident will be sent to the procurator fiscal at Fort William. |
The SportScotland Avalanche Information Service had warned on Monday morning that the avalanche risk in the area was "considerable". | The SportScotland Avalanche Information Service had warned on Monday morning that the avalanche risk in the area was "considerable". |
The 3,701ft (1,128m) high Creag Meagaidh is popular with climbers. | The 3,701ft (1,128m) high Creag Meagaidh is popular with climbers. |
Three people were killed in two separate avalanches on Scottish mountains on 30 December. | Three people were killed in two separate avalanches on Scottish mountains on 30 December. |
Teachers Rupert Rosedale, 37, from Wiltshire and 34-year-old William Wilkinson, from Inverness, were swept to their deaths on Ben Nevis. | Teachers Rupert Rosedale, 37, from Wiltshire and 34-year-old William Wilkinson, from Inverness, were swept to their deaths on Ben Nevis. |
Another man, Chris Astill, 54, from Tideswell in Derbyshire, died in a separate avalanche at Torridon. | Another man, Chris Astill, 54, from Tideswell in Derbyshire, died in a separate avalanche at Torridon. |