Edinburgh ski champ killed by ‘drunk driver’ in America

Craig Macfie, 24, collided with a 4x4 while cycling in Eugene, Oregon, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Craig - who had skied with the Full Alpine Skiing GB team - was rushed to hospital but died from head injuries later the same day.

His American friends kept vigil by his bedside while his parents and siblings travelled from Scotland to be with him when he passed away.

Craig, from Morningside, had won a string of skiing titles and was part of the GB team at the University Winter Games two years ago.

Since moving to Oregon to study, he also skied with the University’s Alpine Racing Team, where friends described him as an “olympic level athlete.”

His brother Alastair, 22, paid tribute to Craig on his Facebook page: “We will miss him dreadfully. He enjoyed a full interesting and enjoyable life. It was just too short.”

Craig was to graduate next month after going to the west coast of America in 2008 to study sports marketing and business administration at the University of Oregon.

He was due to graduate in December and already had a job lined up in London.

The student was cycling in Eugene at 2.30am on Friday night when he was allegedly hit by 21-year-old Patrick Compton’s Toyota 4-runner.

Craig was cycling in a bike lane when Compton allegedly hit him from behind in his 4x4 vehicle. According to reports, Craig was not wearing a cycle helmet at the time of the accident.

Eugene Police said Compton, who also studied in University of Oregon, was in jail after being charged with second-degree assault and drunk driving.

Tributes for the skier flooded in on his Facebook page after news of his death.

Jon Young, a friend of the skier wrote: “I love you like a brother, you loved life and lived it to the fullest all of the time. You were the better golfer, halo player, risk taker, crazy knife thrower and monkey fighter but in all of your achievements none equalled the esteem I held you in as a friend. I love you now and always.”

Another friend Katie Eden said:”Had some good chair lift chats and banta on those mountains you will be missed and never forgotten.”

Last night Jane Harvey, head of Snowsport Scotland, said Craig was a “fantastic talent.”

She added: “This is a terrible loss to the sport. He skied for the Scottish and Team GB teams from school age.”

Neil McQuoid, from the sports’ Racer Ready magazine, said: “Craig achieved eight top ten finishes in international races.

“He twice finished second and only lost out to guys who are now at the very top of the sport. He skied all over the world at the very top.”

The talented sportsman studied at George Watson’s College before moving to the US to pursue sports management.

A spokeswoman for George Watson’s said: “He was a most likeable, friendly young man. It was with great sadness we learned of his death.”

The skiers parents Rosemary and Andy, both 55, brothers Alastair and Euan, and sister Catriona, were at his bedside when he died at the weekend.