Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather
GLENCOE, SCOTLAND: A hiker plunged nearly 100ft to his death while carrying his pet beagle in one hand, rescuers believe. The bodies of 33-year-old Kyle Sambrook and his dog Bane were found in Glencoe after a three-day search operation.
The hillwalker, who hailed from West Yorkshire, was found in a gully at around 2,625ft on the 3,632ft Stob Coire nam Beith. He had reportedly arrived in the highlands on February 18. Sambrook's family was informed of the tragic discovery and met rescuers to thank them on Saturday, February 25.
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What happened to Kyle Sambrook?
Authorities said Sambrook, a landscape gardener, left home last Saturday, February 18, to walk and camp in Glencoe, arriving at the location at around 3.30 pm the same day. His family raised concerns after he did not return home on Tuesday, February 21, as planned. He hadn't made any contact with family or friends since his arrival in Scotland. Rescuers said Sambrook was appropriately clothed for walking and had a tent and other hiking equipment with him. They believe he planned to climb the 3,353ft mountain Buachaille Etive Mòr on his trip. Authorities later found his black Peugeot 208 in the Three Sisters car park in Glencoe. A week-long search for Sambrook ensued, involving members of Glencoe, Lochaber, Oban, Arran, and RAF Leeming mountain rescue teams, as well as law enforcement, the Search and Rescue Dog Association, and the Inverness coastguard helicopter, LBC reported.
No suspicious circumstances
Authorities said Sambrook's family "wish to thank all involved in the search and have requested their privacy be respected," adding, "There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances." Brian Bathurst, the deputy team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, was one of four members who found the bodies on Saturday. "He had fallen about 30 meters 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," Bathurst said. "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. We don’t know what navigation system he was using — a mobile phone or GPS etc." 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 and led to both of their deaths sadly."
It is with great sadness to hear the news of ex Colls player Kyle Sambrook’s passing
— Featherstone Colliery (@f_collieries) February 26, 2023
You’d struggle to find a nicer bloke and over the course of 2 seasons Kyle managed 48 goals in just 37 appearances
We send our condolences, thoughts and prayers to all Kyle’s friends and family pic.twitter.com/Nnx4u62mMS
Recovery operation
Rescuers reportedly carried the bodies on a stretcher for nearly six hours as they descended the mountain. More than 40 rescue personnel were deployed to search the area on Friday, February 24. The next day, the operation was joined by rescuers from Tweed Valley, Oban, and Lochaber mountain rescue teams. Bathurst applauded the "huge efforts" of all the teams involved in the operation. "We could not have done more, but obviously hoped for a better outcome," he said.
"The family has been notified, and a formal ID will occur in due course," Police Scotland said in a statement. "The family has thanked all involved in searching for Kyle and Bane and requested that their privacy be respected at this time. Our thoughts remain with Kyle’s family, and we support them at this difficult time."