A PENSIONER who tragically fell to his death while scaling a mountain in the Scottish Highlands called his family moments before he died.
Freddie Rae, 74, was walking on the 2,812 feet high Beinn a’ Chrulaiste, a mountain to the northeast of Glen Coe, when tragedy struck.
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The super-fit hillwalker decided to leave his home in Motherwell and climb the mountain on Saturday afternoon as the country basked in 24C sunshine.
But the alarm was raised at around 7.30pm when he failed to return from his walk.
Fourteen members of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team then descended on the area.
But they tragically found his body an hour later, about halfway up the peak.
Freddie’s heartbroken son Peter, 39, told the Daily Record that his dad had called his family for the final time just hours before his body was found.
He explained that his dad, who was a very experienced climber, phoned his brother when he reached the top of the mountain.
Dad was a positive man, an inspiration to all of us. He kept us all together and now we’re left picking up the pieces
Peter Rae
Peter said: “Dad died doing what he loved.
“He got to the top of the mountain at 3.30pm on Saturday and he phoned my brother to say he had made it.
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“He told him about the super views and what a great day it was to climb it. He was so happy.”
Tragedy then struck the granddad-of-two as he made his way back down the mountain.
Peter told how Freddie took up hillwalking over 50 years ago and has since managed to complete 200 Munros – and even recently took his two granddaughters up a Munro with him.
He added: “Dad was a positive man, an inspiration to all of us.
“He kept us all together and now we’re left picking up the pieces.
“He was very experienced which makes what has happened all the more of a shock.”
The family also praised the mountain rescue team who launched a frantic search to find him after the alarm was raised.
Dad died doing what he loved…He got to the top of the mountain and he phoned my brother… He told him about the super views and what a great day it was to climb it. He was so happy
Peter Rae
Peter said: “The whole family is indebted to them.
“I don’t think they get enough respect for what they do. They are putting their lives at risk as well.”
Other devasted loved ones flocked to social media to pay their respects to Freddie as they shared their support for his family.
One person said: “Very sad news this morning. Shocked. Thinking of all the family at this tragic time my prayer goes out to you all.”
Another added: “So sorry to hear about your dad Peter. Sending love and thinking about you all. Take care”.
LIFE-SAVING ADVICE
SCOTTISH Mountain Rescue has shared their life-saving safty advice for anyone who gets into difficuty in the mountains. They say:
“Getting out into the hills is the perfect remedy to the hectic lives we lead and has been proven to enhance our well-being, but we must be prepared as the mountain environment can change very quickly.
“The weather on the hill could be very much different than at the roadside.
“If you do get into difficulty and need assistance, the main thing is to remain calm, assess the situation and then decide what to do
- Make sure you and the group are not in immediate danger
- Give first aid to the injured
- Locate your exact position
- Keep warm and decide whether to descend, find shelter, remain where you are or call for help.
“If you call for help in the mountains, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police and then ask for Mountain Rescue. The following information will be required:
- Location (six-figure grid reference or named location)
- Number of casualties and nature of injuries
- Number in the group and what equipment the group have
- Your phone number and the numbers of any other mobiles in the group.
“Register your mobile phone now with the 999 text service as, if the signal is weak, it still may be enough for a text message and these can only be accepted if the phone used has been pre-registered.
“It’s simple to do: just text the word ‘register’ to 999. You will get a reply and should then follow the instructions you are sent. This will take about two minutes of your time and could save your life.”
Someone else wrote: “So sorry for your loss Peter and family. Thinking of you all at this very sad time”.
While a fourth posted: “So sorry to hear about your dad. What a gentleman, thinking of you all”.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of concern for an overdue hillwalker in the Glencoe area around 7.15pm on Saturday, 11 May.
“The Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team carried out a search and the body of the 74-year-old man was found on Beinn a’ Chrulaiste.
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“His body has been recovered and his of kin are aware.
“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”