Young scientist killed in 300ft mountain fall

A BRILLIANT scientist has been killed crossing a narrow ridge on one of Scotland's most spectacular mountains.

Dr Timothy Garn, 27, a Postdoctoral Researcher in Extragalactic Astrophysics at the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh, lost his footing in snow and ice and fell more than 300ft into a corrie near the summit of Ben Lui, near Tyndrum.

Weather conditions at the time were described as "atrocious".

Dr Garn's girlfriend and climbing partner on the trip, who has not been named, saw him fall and managed to alert the emergency services by mobile phone.

Members of Killin Mountain Rescue Team rescued Dr Garn's partner from the summit and found Dr Garn lying in the corrie with head injuries and hypothermia.

He was then taken to Stirling Royal Infirmary, where he was pronounced dead.

Announcing news of what it described as a tragic accident, the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, said: "He was a very talented young astrophysicist whose research career was blossoming quickly."

The incident happened on Sunday, but details were not revealed until yesterday.