Scout, 19, dies in Arthur's Seat plunge

Published on Friday 26 September 2008 22:29

A TEENAGE student and accomplished Scout has died after plunging 50ft from Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.

Mark Muir, 19, had been out with friends when he took a detour along the precarious hillside where he fell.

His body lay in the gorse for 24 hours before it was discovered by a passing walker.

Police believe he lost his footing and say his death is a tragic accident.

Mr Muir, who lived in the city's Haymarket area but was originally from Inverkip, Inverclyde, was a keen climber and had recently won an award for scaling the equivalent of 60,000ft.

He had been out with friends in Edinburgh city centre before leaving them to make his way home in the early hours of 18 September.

Police say he had ventured up Arthur's Seat and was walking along a difficult trail beneath Salisbury Crags when he fell.

Last night, his mother Karen said she was too upset to comment further.

Mr Muir left Greenock High School last year and was studying maths and accountancy at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University.

He had been in the Scouts since he was ten and became a youth leader with the 85th First Inverkip group.

David McCallum, district commissioner of Greenock and District Scout Association, knew him for nine years.

He said: "I knew him extremely well. He was a smashing lad and one of scouting's nicest sons. It was a dreadful accident. It's just a shock.

"He was a real achiever and received his Chief Scout Gold Award and Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.

"He was one of the few scouts to achieve the Double Everest Award where he climbed the equivalent of 60,000ft.

"He was a hero and an inspiration to many, and a lot of young people will be badly affected by his death.

"Mark followed the real scouting path and was friends with lots of people. He kept the scouting promise to do his best."

The death is the first in the area since a Taiwanese schoolboy fell to the bottom of Salisbury Crags two years ago.

Last night, Historic Scotland, which is responsible for Arthur's Seat and the surrounding area, issued a warning of the park's dangers.

A spokesman said: "The terrain of Holyrood Park is diverse, open and, in places, extremely challenging and exposed.

"We advise people to keep to the paths and not attempt to stray into territory that could be potentially dangerous to them.

"It is important that people using the park are well equipped and prepared for any activity they wish to undertake.

"If a user of the park has any doubt about what the landscape in the park may encompass available paths and walking routes, our Holyrood Park Ranger service can provide information."