Tributes flood in after rugby teen's fall from Crags

MISSED: Mourners gather in Holyrood Park. Picture: PHIL WILKINSON

Dozens of mourners have laid flowers in Holyrood Park to remember Calum Veitch, 17, from Portobello, who had only just secured his referee licence and had been helping to coach young players in recent weeks.

He was found early on Sunday morning at the bottom of the Crags following what appears to have been a tragic accident. Just hours earlier, the teenager had been enjoying a night out with rugby friends.

Calum, who attended Portobello High School, was described as being "very close" to his family. Mirroring the path of his referee father, Robin, the "rugby-mad" teenager had started to help coach Portobello High School's under-15s team.

He played for local American football team the Edinburgh Wolves and for the Musselburgh Rugby and Football Club's under-18s team, the Colts.

Today a banner near the Crags, surrounded by flowers and heartfelt notes, simply read: "We will miss you Calum."

Euan McMillan, who coached Calum at Musselburgh, said the teenager, who lived with his family in Duddingston, was a "model boy" who was loved by everyone.

Mr McMillan, 47, said: "We are all absolutely devastated, really upset. Calum and his older brother Craig were model boys.

"Calum had just passed his referee course and he was going to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a referee. He was a huge help to the rugby players at Portobello High. The younger boys really looked up to him.

"He'd been out with some of the rugby boys a few hours earlier and they said Calum had been in brilliant spirits. He was a happy lad.

"He would often make his own way home through Holyrood Park.

"His mum and dad have been around the rugby club for years. They were very close, his dad is a respected referee and his mum, Joanne, would help out and organise food.

"This is hard to take in, he was a good player and a good lad."

Mr McMillan added that Calum had started playing rugby when he was six. He had been in the under-18 team and recently played in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. The teen also loved American Football and was named player of the year for two seasons in a row.

The deputy headteacher at Portobello High, Margaret Williamson, also paid tribute, saying: "Calum really was an exceptionally nice lad and he'll be hugely missed."

A police spokeswoman said: "Inquiries are at an early stage, but we believe there to be no suspicious circumstances."