This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8517115.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Scout climber dies in avalanche | Scout climber dies in avalanche |
| (about 8 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. | 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. | 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 said they were investigating. No-one else was thought to have been injured. | |
| It's a complete and utter disaster James YoungGrandfather | |
| His grandfather James Young said Mr Young's parents Andrew, 46, and who serves in the RAF, and Judy, 43, were also on the trip but further down the mountain. | |
| Mr Young's grandfather said: "It's a complete and utter disaster. It's an awful blow, he was only 18. I can't believe it's happened, it's absolutely horrendous. | |
| "Stephen was lead boy and where they were walking just gave way. He was carried down in the avalanche and he died on the hillside. They are very lucky they didn't lose two more." | |
| He added: "My son, Andrew, was further down the hill. He phoned the RAF and they airlifted him to Fort William." | |
| Charity sleep-out | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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 had 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 holiday 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. | 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 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. |