Walker who died in Highlands fall was rescue team member

Member of Dundonnell Mountain rescue team dies in fall. Picture: Contributed

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A MEMBER of a mountain rescue team has died after falling on a walk in a remote part of the north-west Highlands.

James Edwards died in hospital following the incident in the Fisherfield Forest region last Saturday.

Members of the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team (DMRT) - which Mr Edwards was part of - were called out to help.

The team described the weather at the time as “atrocious” and they had to walk for six hours with a stretcher and kit as a helicopter could not fly in the area.

Mr Edwards was eventually airlifted to hospital by a coastguard helicopter.

The rescue team said they were “all completely numbed” by the death.

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DMRT member Donald MacRae posted on the team’s Facebook page: “The walker we rescued last Saturday morning has very sadly died of his injuries. This was an immensely difficult rescue for us as a team as the casualty was a fellow team member, James Edwards.

“We are all completely numbed by this outcome.

“Our thoughts, love and support are with his wife Tanya and their two little boys.”

Writing about the incident on the Facebook page on Sunday, Mick Holmes said: “Dundonnell MRT called out to assist a fallen climber in Fisherfield yesterday evening.

“Due to the seriousness of the incident we asked for assistance from Torridon MRT and helicopter support.

“Atrocious weather conditions meant the helicopter could not get close so a six-hour walk in with stretcher and kit ensued.

“Casualty was located and R948 assisted with some nice flying to evacuate the casualty to hospital.”

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