He is believed to have fallen 100ft while carrying his beloved beagle ‘with one hand’
A fundraiser has been launched to raise money for the cremation of a hillwalker and his dog, so he “can remain with his best friend, son, his everything” forever after they both died in a tragic mountain accident.
On Saturday, Scotland Police confirmed rescue teams had found the bodies of Kyle Sambrook and his dog in a deep gorge above the Fionn Ghleann.
Kyle had travelled to the Lost Valley area of Glencoe with his beagle, Bame, and planned to ascend the 3,353ft (1,022m) mountain Buachaille Etive Mòr, the BBC reports.
Concern for the 33-year-old’s welfare was raised when he failed to return home on February 21 as planned.
A major search was launched when he did not return, involving Glencoe, Lochaber, Oban and RAF mountain rescue team volunteers, as well as HM Coastguard.
Rescuers believe Kyle fell roughly 100ft to his death while “holding his dog with one hand.”
A fundraiser has now been set up to raise money for the cremation of both Kyle and his dog, so that Kyle can “remain with his best friend, son, his everything.”
Organiser Katie Westwood wrote: “Kyle has always wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread in his favourite place, Scotland.
“We would like to also do the same with Bane, so Kyle can remain with his best friend, son, his everything.”
More than £10,000 has been raised, far exceeding the initial £5,000 goal.
Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, said: “He had fallen about 30 metres into this gully on the west side of the hill and we think the most likely scenario is that he was holding his dog with one hand.
“It was appalling weather, with strong winds at the time of his fall, and he may have been trying to get off the hill and lost his way a bit.”
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Bathurst added: “He also had a heavy rucksack and where he has fallen is very steep ground. It looks like carrying the dog, together with all the other factors, may have been a major cause of the accident.”
It took six hours for teams to carry the bodies off the mountain via stretcher, and Bathurst praised the “huge effort” of everyone involved.
He said: “We could not have done more, but obviously hoped for a better outcome.”
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