Third Cairngorm avalanche victim named

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on 20/02/2013 10:25

A TEENAGE climbing student was the third victim killed in an avalanche in the Cairngorms on Valentine’s Day.

Northern Constabulary confirmed his identity as 18-year-old William Currie from Penzance.

He had been on a week-long course at outdoor training centre Glenmore Lodge when the tragedy in the Chalamain Gap happened.

Two RAF personnel in another climbing party were also killed.

Squadron Leader Rimon Than, 36, from RAF Valley in North Wales and colleague Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps, 32, based at RAF Odinham in Hampshire, were swept to their deaths.

They were part of the RAF Mountaineering Association training in the Cairngorms.

Their four colleagues and five climbers in the Glenmore Lodge party desperately tried to dig through the snow to find their companions following last Thursday’s avalanche.

A massive rescue operation was launched involving 50 people.

Although all three bodies were recovered within two hours, they were later pronounced dead at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.