He saved lives of thousands - then river swept Dr Bill Richmond to his death

An angler who died after being swept down a Highland river was a renowned biochemist who invented a test for cholesterol used throughout the world.

Dr Bill Richmond, 68, was wading on the River Spey, near Advie Bridge, while on holiday on the Tulchan Estate when he slipped and fell on Wednesday morning.

It is thought his waders may have filled with water as he was fly fishing and he was swept away by the current.

Despite the efforts of rescuers, the retired clinical biochemist's body was discovered at Blacksboat, more than six miles downstream.

Dr Richmond grew up near Cupar, Fife, and went to St Andrews University.

His first job was at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, but he spent most of his career in hospitals in the London area, and became head of the department of chemical pathology at St Mary's Hospital in the city. He lived in Middlesex.

He was well known for inventing the cholesterol test, called the Richmond process.

Dr Richmond's brother, Robert, 61, said that members of his family were shocked, including his parents, Bill, 90, and Hilda, 88, who live at Newport-on-Tay, near Dundee.

Dr Richmond had a second brother, dentist Iain, and a sister, Irene.

The biochemist's wife, Joan, died nine years ago, aged 53, after an anaphylactic shock when she was stung by a bee.

Mr Richmond said his brother was a lifelong fisherman who loved the Spey.

He said: "One minute he was standing knee-deep in the water and a minute later he was floating downstream on his back and struggling. It is possible that he slipped and his waders filled up with water."

He said his brother's friends were very upset, particularly the man who was with him when he was swept away.

Mr Richmond said: "He valiantly tried to rescue him, but he could not keep up. But I don't think there was anyone who could have saved him. He could not have done more."

Mr Richmond, two of his sons and a nephew drove to the Highlands on Wednesday after being told that Dr Richmond was missing.

"We were prepared to join the search party and hoped that he had been washed up somewhere with a broken leg," Mr Richmond said.

"The police and searchers were fantastic and we are very grateful to them."

Police, coastguard, Glenmore Mountain Rescue Team and an RAF Lossiemouth helicopter were all involved in the four-hour search operation. Local gillies and estate workers also assisted.

Kayaks were used in the search, which covered about 10 miles of the river, which was in spate, between Advie Bridge and Boat o' Brig, near Rothes.

The Tulchan Estate, which covers 25,000 acres, promotes itself as having some of the region's best shooting and stalking grounds and Europe's finest fishing.

The lodge was built in 1906, and to fish on the river costs 235 per rod per day and 1,410 per rod per week.

The estate has four beats, or stretches of the Spey, each of them limited to six rods.

TEST THAT CHANGED MEDICINE

The Richmond process was developed by Dr Bill Richmond in 1973.

His findings were published in the journal Clinical Chemistry when he was working for the Medical Research Council in Harrow, Middlesex.

The Richmond test used an enzyme reaction to break down cholesterol.

Previously the only test had used hydrochloric acid, which was not portable, practical or safe.

The Richmond test is the basis for all cholesterol tests done today and Dr Richmond's breakthrough made cholesterol testing much safer.

His paper on the test is still one of the ten most viewed medical papers in the world, according to Dr Robert Cramb, a trustee of charity HEART UK.