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Lead Scout dies in mountain fall | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Scout leader has been killed after falling through a shelf of snow on a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. | |
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. |
Earlier it was reported that Mr Young was believed to have died in an avalanche. | |
But his family said this was not the case. | |
The SportScotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) said it was believed Mr Young had fallen through a shelf of snow known as a cornice. | |
No-one else was thought to have been injured. | |
It's a complete and utter disaster James YoungGrandfather | It's a complete and utter disaster James YoungGrandfather |
His grandfather James Young said Mr Young's uncle Andrew, 46, and who serves in the RAF, and mother 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. | 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. 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." | He added: "My son, Andrew, was further down the hill. He phoned the RAF and they airlifted him to Fort William." |
Mark Diggins, of the SAIS, said Mr Young may have fallen through a cornice. | |
He said: "It is a real tragedy. | He said: "It is a real tragedy. |
"My understanding is that they were coming down from Creag Meagaidh and as they approached a place called The Window, which is a sort of exit if you like, he went through a cornice and tumbled down and that is what contributed to his injuries." | "My understanding is that they were coming down from Creag Meagaidh and as they approached a place called The Window, which is a sort of exit if you like, he went through a cornice and tumbled down and that is what contributed to his injuries." |
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." |
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. | 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 incident happened and contacted emergency services. | |
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 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 3,701ft (1,128m) high Creag Meagaidh is popular with walkers. | |
Mr Young is the latest fatality in the Scottish mountains this winter. | |
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. |