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Glencoe: Tributes for avalanche victims | Glencoe: Tributes for avalanche victims |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tributes have been paid to climbers who died in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday. | Tributes have been paid to climbers who died in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday. |
Christopher Bell, from Blackburn, Una Finnegan from County Londonderry and Tom Chesters, who was living in Leeds, died descending a mountain in Glencoe. | |
A fourth climber who died, a woman, has not yet been named. A 24-year-old woman remains in hospital and a sixth climber, an unnamed man, survived. | A fourth climber who died, a woman, has not yet been named. A 24-year-old woman remains in hospital and a sixth climber, an unnamed man, survived. |
A friend of the two men said they were elite outdoor pursuits competitors. | A friend of the two men said they were elite outdoor pursuits competitors. |
'Seized every opportunity' | 'Seized every opportunity' |
The group were caught up in the avalanche on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe at about 14:00 GMT. | The group were caught up in the avalanche on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe at about 14:00 GMT. |
It is thought the five of them were carried down the mountain when the slope they were on broke away. | It is thought the five of them were carried down the mountain when the slope they were on broke away. |
The sixth member survived by leaping from the collapsing snow and hammering an ice axe into the ground. | The sixth member survived by leaping from the collapsing snow and hammering an ice axe into the ground. |
Sam Morris, 35, who had worked with Mr Chesters and Mr Bell as mountain bike guides in the Alps, said they spent most of their free time on the mountains. | Sam Morris, 35, who had worked with Mr Chesters and Mr Bell as mountain bike guides in the Alps, said they spent most of their free time on the mountains. |
Mr Chesters, 28, a PhD student at Hull University, was known in the field of orienteering, while 24-year-old Mr Bell, from Balderstone, who was studying for a PhD in ocean mapping, competed in triathlons and excelled in national events, he said. | Mr Chesters, 28, a PhD student at Hull University, was known in the field of orienteering, while 24-year-old Mr Bell, from Balderstone, who was studying for a PhD in ocean mapping, competed in triathlons and excelled in national events, he said. |
"It was so few years lived but I know there's not much either one of them would have done differently," he said. | "It was so few years lived but I know there's not much either one of them would have done differently," he said. |
"They seized every opportunity. | "They seized every opportunity. |
"They'd do things that people who spend their whole lives sitting behind a desk wish they could have done. | "They'd do things that people who spend their whole lives sitting behind a desk wish they could have done. |
"When they died they were with the people they loved, doing what they loved." | "When they died they were with the people they loved, doing what they loved." |
Despite their orienteering knowledge, he said the men were in the wrong place at the wrong time. | Despite their orienteering knowledge, he said the men were in the wrong place at the wrong time. |
"They were as trained up and as cautious as you can be," he said. | "They were as trained up and as cautious as you can be," he said. |
"With the best will in the world, these things are a game of odds." | "With the best will in the world, these things are a game of odds." |
Paying tribute to Dr Finnegan, a junior doctor living in Edinburgh, Independent councillor David McClarty said his thoughts were with her family. | Paying tribute to Dr Finnegan, a junior doctor living in Edinburgh, Independent councillor David McClarty said his thoughts were with her family. |
The 25-year-old studied medicine at Newcastle University and took a masters in anthropology of health and illness in Edinburgh. | The 25-year-old studied medicine at Newcastle University and took a masters in anthropology of health and illness in Edinburgh. |
He said: "When one hears of a tragedy like this your heart goes out to the families affected", he said. | He said: "When one hears of a tragedy like this your heart goes out to the families affected", he said. |
"This young woman, a qualified doctor, had her whole life ahead of her and then it is tragically cut short. | "This young woman, a qualified doctor, had her whole life ahead of her and then it is tragically cut short. |
"The family is a Christian one and hopefully they will get some comfort from the fact that she died doing something she enjoyed." | "The family is a Christian one and hopefully they will get some comfort from the fact that she died doing something she enjoyed." |
The search and rescue teams were first alerted by two climbers who were not part of the group when they saw one of the casualties in the snow. | The search and rescue teams were first alerted by two climbers who were not part of the group when they saw one of the casualties in the snow. |
The unnamed survivor also contacted them to say more people were missing. | The unnamed survivor also contacted them to say more people were missing. |
In a statement he said they were in an area known as Church Door Buttress when the avalanche struck. | In a statement he said they were in an area known as Church Door Buttress when the avalanche struck. |
He said: "It is with much sadness and deep regret that some of my friends have died as a result. | He said: "It is with much sadness and deep regret that some of my friends have died as a result. |
"All in the group loved the mountains and are experienced winter walkers." | "All in the group loved the mountains and are experienced winter walkers." |
Jonathan Hart, chairman of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland, has described the incident as a "tragic event". | Jonathan Hart, chairman of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland, has described the incident as a "tragic event". |
The Reverend Moira Herkes of St Munda's Church, in the Highlands, said it was the worst accident in the area for many years. | The Reverend Moira Herkes of St Munda's Church, in the Highlands, said it was the worst accident in the area for many years. |