15-year-old boy killed in Scottish gorge tragedy

Anthony Quinn had been playing with friends at Dollar Glen. Picture: PA

Anthony Quinn had been playing with friends at Dollar Glen in the Ochil hills in Clackmannanshire when concerns for his safety were raised.

He is understood to have been with the group at a waterfall near the 15th-century Castle Campbell on Saturday.

His friends called emergency services shortly after 4pm and police and ambulance workers joined the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s technical rope rescue at the scene – a five-minute walk from the Castle Campbell car park.

The sporty teenager, who had been a member of Central Athletics, was pronounced dead at the scene. Dollar Glen is popular with walkers and features two rivers and a series of waterfalls.

Yesterday, Sergeant Derek McKie of Alloa said: “This is a tragic loss of a young man’s life and our sincere condolences are with Anthony’s friends and family, who have respectfully requested that they be left to grieve in private at this very sad time.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”

Police, who comforted the boy’s friends at the scene, said they were not seeking any further witnesses.

One local parent said: “Lots of local kids go to the waterfall in the summertime, but this is every parent’s worst nightmare.

“It sends a chill down your spine. Everyone’s thoughts are with the boy’s family.”

Central Athletics, where Anthony was a member, tweeted a picture of a newspaper article of the tragedy yesterday, and wrote: “We have heard the very sad news that this is Anthony Quinn who is a Central member. Our thoughts are with his family.”

The National Trust for Scotland, which owns the historic Castle Campbell, described Dollar Glen as “the perfect place for a Scottish countryside walk”.

The NTS website adds: “Dollar Glen has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its range of wildlife habitats and important geological features. The whole area is a haven for wildlife, and the scenery is spectacular: two evocatively named burns – the Burn of Care and the Burn of Sorrow – rush through deep gorges on either side of the lushly wooded glen, tumbling into waterfalls in places.”

But it warns: “Sections of the path are uneven, slippery and unfenced with some steep drops, so please be careful and wear suitable footwear. For their own safety please take care of children and keep dogs under close control.”