Father-of-one hillwalker plunges to his death off Highland mountain
Tragedy as Scots father-of-one hillwalker, 46, plunges to his death off mountain in the Highlands
- Lachlan Macdonald is said to have lost his footing on a ridge and fell backwards
- He was an avid hillwalker who died ‘doing what he loved best’ near Isle of Skye
- Police confirmed the death of a 46-year-old man who was walking in mountain
Tributes have poured in for a Scottish hillwalker who tragically died after falling off a mountain in the Highlands last week.
Lachlan Macdonald, 46, from Glasgow, is understood to have lost his footing while on top of a ridge and fell backwards off a cliff near the Isle of Skye.
The father-of-one was walking through Forcan Ridge, considered a challenging route, on The Saddle, the peak, at around 12pm on Saturday, September 17 when he died ‘doing what he loved best’.
He has been described as a ‘man who could light up a hillside in seconds’ and someone who had ‘love, compassion and ability to bring out the best in every situation’.
Lachlan Macdonald (pictured hiking), 46, passed away after the accident happened at the Forcan Ridge on The Saddle, a munro near Skye, at around 12pm on Saturday, September 17
His friend Louise Strutt led the tributes with a heartfelt message posted on social media.
She said: ‘It’s taken me all day to be able to even write this but with my heart absolutely broken I’m posting the horrible news that my friend – our hillwalking families Lachlan Macdonald sadly lost his life yesterday in a tragic accident on the Forcan Ridge.
‘My big Jambo pal is gone and my days on our beautiful countries mountains will never be the same.
‘A man who could light up a hillside in seconds. Your love, compassion and ability to bring out the best in every situation. Love you to the munros and back my friend.’
Sophie McKenna, also paying tribute, said: ‘Rest easy big guy, you were truly one in a million and I’ll miss you forever. My heart’s shattered.’
Another close friend, Allan Clacher, said: ‘RIP Lachlan Macdonald. I’ll remember the laughs we shared and the early morning I was your knight in shining armour and rescued you whilst wandering aimlessly in Pollokshaws Road. You sir were a gem of a guy. Fly high brother.’
It’s understood the father-of-one (pictured on top of a peak), from Glasgow, lost his footing while on top of the ridge and fell backwards off the cliff
Neil Jeffrey said: ‘Good night and sleep tight Lachlan Macdonald, you are in a very nice place now RIP.’
A fundraiser has been set up to help Lachlan’s family with funeral costs. The page contains a statement from his mother Margaret which reads: ‘It is with a very heavy heart that I wish to inform you that our only son Lachlan lost his life after falling off a mountain at Clunnie.
‘He was doing what he loved best – climbing the mountains. We just can’t believe what has happened to our gorgeous boy.
‘He was an amazing dad to Alannah, brother to Karen, uncle to wee Calum and son to Calum and myself and words can’t express how we feel.’
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We were made aware of a 46-year-old man having fallen while walking on The Saddle in Kintail around 12pm on Saturday, September 17.
‘His body was subsequently found and recovered with the assistance of the HM Coastguard helicopter and the Kintail and Glenelg mountain rescue teams.
‘There are no suspicious circumstances and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
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