Am Basteir. Photo: Iain Gillespie
A man has died after a fall on the Cuillin on Skye.
Police were alerted to the incident at 2.50pm yesterday, Friday. Skye Mountain Rescue Team went to the man’s aid and the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter joined the rescuers.
The 64-year-old man from the Midlands was with three others on Am Basteir, the 934m (3,064ft) peak on the range on Skye, when he fell about 30m (100ft).
A spokesperson for Northern Constabulary said he was taken to Broadford Hospital, Skye, where he was found to have died.
Police have not released further details of the walker.
Am Basteir – Gaelic for the Executioner – is a difficult peak, with exposed scrambling. A 3m bad step near the summit has been made even more problematic by a rockfall.
Gavin
30 June 2009It's a fine story but from an experienced mountaineer's perspective it'd be grand to to know a bit more about the nature of the accident like, was the guy on the bad step, was he on the ledge or did he just trip and fall ?
I guess to some extent this may be sub judice if the police have to submit a report ?
I was on the Ridge below the Bhasteir Tooth with a party at lunchtime on Saturday when a guy turned up to have a shiftie at the possibility solo free climbing the Tooth. I couldn't believe it and asked if he wanted to leave me his telephone number. He took my comment fairly well and fortunately he had a shiftie and decided not to bother.
Far be it for me to be judgmental regarding an unknown chappie's abilities but the fact that he was even condidering this on a solo basis simply staggered me.
Who knows - he may have been a world class rock climber ?
Too many folk wander about the Cuillin without a scoobie about the routes and the inherent dangers involved with most of them.
Gemma
01 July 2009This 'accident' was the death of my uncle. A little respect please
Gavin
01 July 2009Gemma, I'm very sorry. Absolutely no disrespect intended. I was responding to the article generally and was simply interested in hearing a bit more about the actual nature of the accident. Any disrespect you may have interpreted from my response was more probably directed towards the chap I met on the Saturday who was looking to free climb the Tooth. A fairly risky venture for anyone other than an expert [ and very confident ] rock climber. Again, sincere apologies for any upset caused and much regret for your loss.