Walker fell nearly 100ft to death ‘because he was carrying his dog’

Charlie Herbert

His body was found on Saturday

A hillwalker fell nearly 100ft to his death because he was carrying his dog with one hand, rescuers believe.

Kyle Sambrook was last seen with his beagle, called Bane, in the Lost Valley area of Glencoe at about noon on Sunday, February 19. He left his home in West Yorkshire, the previous day, and arrived in Glencoe at about 3.30pm the same day.

Concern for the 33-year-old’s welfare was raised when he failed to return home on February 21 as planned.

On Saturday, Police Scotland confirmed that the bodies of Kyle and his dog were found in the Glencoe area.

The man’s family were informed of the discovery and met with rescuers on Saturday to thank them for their efforts, the Daily Record reports.

Rescuers have revealed that they think Kyle may have fallen because he was “holding his dog with one hand.”

Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team and one of four members to find the bodies, 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.”

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.”

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Kyle had planned to ascend the 3,353ft (1,022m) mountain Buachaille Etive Mòr, the BBC reports.

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.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team said volunteers had found the bodies of a man and a dog in a deep gorge above the Fionn Ghleann.

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.”

A fundraiser has been set up to raise money for the cremation of both Kyle and his dog.

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.”

At the time of writing, just under £3,500 has been raised of the £5,000 goal.

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