Tragic death of hill walker Kyle Sambrook who rescuers say was probably carrying his dog in 'appalling' weather on Glencoe climb
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A hill walker fell almost 100 feet to his death because he was probably carrying his dog with one hand, rescuers believe.
The body of Kyle Sambrook and his beagle Bane were found in Glencoe on Saturday after a massive three-day search.
The 33-year-old from West Yorkshire – who travelled to Glencoe in the Highlands the previous weekend with his dog – was found in a gully about 2625ft (800m) up on the 3632ft (1107m) high Stob Coire nam Beith.
The family of landscape gardener Mr Sambrook have been told of the tragic discovery and met rescuers to thank them on Sunday.
Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team – who was among the four members who discovered the bodies of Mr Sambrook and Bane – said it was a "tragic outcome".
"He had fallen about 30 metres (98ft) into this gully on the west side of the hill and we think the most likely scenario is that he was holding his dog with one hand. It was appalling weather with strong winds at the time of his fall and he may have been trying to get off the hill and lost his way a bit.
"We don't know what navigation system he was using – a mobile phone or GPS etc. The dog was not on a lead.
"He also had a heavy rucksack and where he has fallen is very steep ground. It looks like carrying the dog, together with all the other factors, may have been a major cause of the accident and led to both of their deaths sadly.
"We are meeting the family today to pass on our deepest condolences over this tragic outcome."
The rescuers took six gruelling hours to carry the bodies of Mr Sambrook and Bane off the mountain by stretcher.
Mr Sambrook had driven by car to the area with plans to climb the 3351ft high Buachaille Etive Mòr with Bane.
More than 40 rescuers scoured the area in an a 12-hour operation on Friday. Over 55 had done the same on Thursday.
On Saturday the search resumed again with more than 30 – including those from visiting Tweed Valley MRT, Oban MRT and Lochaber MRT.
But Police Scotland said that at 2.15pm, the bodies of a male and a dog believed to be that of Mr Sambrook and Bane were recovered by mountain rescue teams.
"The family has been notified, and a formal ID will occur in due course," said the force.
"The family have thanked all involved in searching for Kyle and Bane and requested that their privacy be respected at this time. Our thoughts remain with Kyle’s family, and we support them at this difficult time."
Mr Bathurst praised the "huge effort" of all the teams involved.
"It was a fantastic response," he said. "We could not have done more, but obviously hoped for a better outcome."
Extensive searches have included mountain rescue teams from Glencoe, Lochaber, Oban, Arran and Police Scotland, assisted by the RAF, a coastguard helicopter and the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA).
There had been a sighting of Kyle and his dog in the Lost Valley area of Glencoe around noon on Sunday.
A coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Inverness also conducted an aerial reconnaissance on Thursday and Friday.
Police said Mr Sambrook was planning to wild camp in the area.
He was expected to go back to West Yorkshire on Tuesday. However, he failed to return and had not made contact with anyone since arriving in Glencoe the previous Saturday.
His car was located in the Three Sister’s car park in Glencoe.
After a spate of deaths on Scotland's hills, police have warned over a "false sense of security" among walkers and climbers.
An unseasonal lack of snow in some places has led some mountaineers to believe that that was typical cover elsewhere on the hill.
Inspector Matt Smith, Police Scotland lead for mountain rescue, said: “Our volunteer and police mountain rescue teams have dealt with a number of tragic incidents in recent weeks. It’s still winter, despite what it may look like further down. I’d urge anyone setting out to plan for all eventualities."
Walker Harvey Christian from Peterborough is still missing on the UK's highest mountain.
Hopes over finding Mr Christian alive have disappeared – and it is feared his body may be buried under snow, making it difficult to find.
He went up Ben Nevis on January 27, but did not return. His car, a black Vauxhall Crossland X, was found parked in a layby in Glen Nevis.
Meanwhile, Assynt MRT were called out on Saturday to assist in the extraction of a casualty who had sustained a lower limb injury on Quinag.
The team's medical officer provided treatment and pain relief before an onward transfer to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. The walker's condition is unknown.
