Lachlan Macdonald: Community in shock after hiker loses his footing and falls to death from mountain
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: A Scottish hiker tragically died after falling from a mountain in the Highlands on Saturday, September 17.
46-year-old Lachlan Macdonald, from Glasgow, was walking through Forcan Ridge on The Saddle at around 12 pm when he lost his footing and fell backward off a rock face near the Isle of Skye.
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The Scotland police revealed they received a call about a 46-year-old man falling from Forcan Ridge, which is considered to be one of the most challenging routes in Kintail at around 12 pm. They soon rushed to the location and managed to recover the body of the climber with the assistance of the HM Coastguard helicopter and the Kintail and Glenelg mountain rescue teams.
"There are no suspicious circumstances and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal," a spokesperson for the Scotland police said in a statement.
Macdonald, a father of one, worked for First Bus in Glasgow and turned to hillwalking just a couple of years ago. The news of his demise has left his family and friends devastated. Alasdair Campbell, who has been Lachlan’s best friend since school, described him as a "man who could light up a hillside in seconds" and said, "He was a larger than life character, always the life and soul of the party. He loved his nights out."
"He loved his family, his beautiful daughter Alannah, his mum, dad, and sister, and his sister’s wee boy Calum. He lived for his family. We’re all still in shock. He was a big Hearts supporter and used to wear his Hearts top everywhere. He had a group of friends he used to meet up with and stay in a lodge for a weekend and he would be wearing his Hearts top for the whole weekend."
Another close friend, Allan Clacher, took to his social media handle and said, "RIP Lachlan Macdonald. I'll remember the laughs we shared and the early morning I was your knight in shining armor and rescued you whilst wandering aimlessly in Pollokshaws Road. You sir were a gem of a guy. Fly high brother."
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the close friend of the hill climber to help his family pay for his funeral. The page also contains a statement made by his mother Margaret, which reads, "It is with a very heavy heart that I wish to inform you that our only son Lachlan lost his life after falling off a mountain at Clunie. He was doing what he loved best - climbing the mountains. We just can't believe what has happened to our gorgeous boy."
"He was an amazing dad to Alannah, brother to Karen, uncle to wee Calum, and son to Calum and myself and words can't express how we feel," the grieving mother added.