Search for missing walker ends as body is found under cliff

Published on Tuesday 24 February 2009 21:48

RESCUERS searching for a walker missing in the Cairngorms since the weekend yesterday found a body at the foot of a cliff.

Robin Davies, 48, an insurance company worker from Milton of Leys in Inverness, had not been seen since Saturday, when he set off with his Yorkshire terrier, Tilly, for a trek in the Feshiebridge area.

About 40 rescuers yesterday started a third day of searching, with hope all but gone of finding Mr Davies alive.

A helicopter crew from RAF Lossiemouth recovered a body from the bottom of a gully in the Carn Ban Mhor area between Glen Feshie and Glen Einich at 2:30pm.

The body was found about two-and-a-half miles east of where Mr Davies's Toyota MR2 sports car was discovered on Monday, in Auchlean car park at the foot of Glen Feshie.

Police said last night's formal identification had not yet taken place, but Mr Davies's family had been told of the discovery and the search had been wound down.

Mr Davies's dog was later found alive. Rescuers believed the terrier may have fallen and Mr Davies plunged to his death trying to save his pet.

Michael Mulford, spokesman for the RAF, said: "The civilian and military teams gave it their best shot but, unfortunately, to no avail.

"But if the best you can do is bring him back to his family, that is some kind of comfort, however tragic."

Mr Davies, a father of two who was separated from his wife, was a financial adviser for Perth-based CIS Insurance and a regular and experienced walker.

He set off on Saturday morning or afternoon, but was reported missing on Sunday afternoon when his 18-year-old daughter called police.

A large-scale search involving mountain rescue teams and a RAF helicopter was launched but they found nothing.

With fears growing, another search began at 8am yesterday involving 14 members of Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team, 17 from the RAF Kinloss team, seven search and rescue dogs and their handlers and a helicopter crew.

They again concentrated on the Glen Feshie and Carn Ban Mhor areas, although there were no clear details of the route Mr Davies had intending taking.