Investigation into death of popular tourist guide on Orkney

Jamie Shannon , Haggis Adventures tour guide who fell off a cliff in Orkney and died.

Jamie Shannon’s death on Orkney prompted an outpouring of grief from family and friends who all spoke of their devastation at losing him.

It is believed the 23-year-old lost his footing while taking tourists along the island’s Yesnaby Cliffs in June last year.

Mr Shannon, from Dunblane, Perthshire, had been working with Edinburgh-based company Haggis Adventures at the time of his death.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has now announced that a fatal accident inquiry will be held into the circumstances surrounding his death. It is scheduled to be heard at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Orkney in June.

A statement released by Haggis Adventures folllowing Jamie’s death read: “Jamie was adored by us all. We are proud to call him our best friend.

“He loved his job, he was incredibly fun, passionate and cared deeply for everyone he ever met.

“It will be absolutely impossible to forget the impact he has had on all of us at Haggis, passengers and staff alike.

“His smile and laugh were infectious. We will miss his energy, his positivity, his loyalty and most of all his hugs.

“Nobody gives as good a hug as Jamie.

“To say he will be sorely missed is an understatement; Scotland came alive with Jamie at the helm, always with a smile.”

Jamie studied geography at Dundee University and always wanted to work in tourism.

The accident happened on the first day of one of his tours, as he was showing a group of young tourists around some of Scotland’s beauty spots.

They were sent back to Edinburgh distraught after witnessing the tragedy.

At the time, his family thanked emergency services in Kirkwall, including the coastguards and lifeboats, who recovered his body after he had fallen.

A notice announcing the fatal accident inquiry read: “An inquiry into the death of Jamie McPherson Shannon is to be held.

“The inquiry is a mandatory inquiry under section 2(3) of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016, as said Jamie McPherson Shannon died as a result of an accident which occurred in Scotland and whilst he was acting in the course of his employment.”