Mountain fall Scout leader 'died doing what he loved'

A SCOUT leader who plunged hundreds of feet to his death on a Scottish mountain died "doing what he loved", his grandfather said.

Stephen Young, 18, was leading a walking trip on Creag Meagaidh on Monday when he fell through a snow cornice.

His mother Judy, 43, and uncle, Andrew, 46, were part of the group but were further down the mountain and did not see the accident.

Stephen plummeted 200-300 metres through the overhang which had built up due to recent accumulations of heavy snow.

It was the third cornice fall in seven days in the mountains but on the two previous occasions the victims walked away uninjured.

The group was walking from the top of Creag Meagaidh towards an area to the north known as the Window, an exit off the plateau, when Stephen fell.

Mark Diggins, of the SportScotland Avalanche Information Service, said: "He went through a cornice and it was the injuries from the fall that were the issue. When he was located at the bottom in the corrie there was debris from the cornice which he had taken with him."

He said last week a climber fell about 300 metres through a cornice in the Northern Cairngorms and survived with just a broken tooth. Rescuers going to help him heard 20 minutes later that another climber had been involved in a similar accident and had also survived.

Mr Diggins said: "It's just one these things. They were very lucky to survive and this poor lad didn't. It's a real tragedy."

He said the cornices were much bigger than previous years due to the amount of snow falling and constant wind blowing snow over the cliffs, and were presenting a fresh hazard for walkers and climbers.

"When people are navigating they use the edge as a reference, but now the cornices are so big they are sticking out over the edges, so it's something to be concerned about."

Stephen was airlifted off the mountain and taken to hospital in Fort William, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Stephen's grandfather, James Young, 70, said: "It's a complete and utter disaster. It's an awful blow; he was only 18.

"I can't believe it'shappened, it's absolutely horrendous.

"They were on a reach, Stephen was lead boy and where they were walking just gave way. They are lucky they didn't lose two more."

Stephen, an Explorer Scout, had previously raised almost 2,500 for charity by spending 365 nights camped out in the garden of his home in Borough Green, near Sevenoaks, Kent.

His challenge had only been due to last 100 nights, but he decided to spend the whole of 2007 under canvas to raise as much money as possible for the Demelza House Children's Hospice.

Mr Young said his grandson had lots of friends, was studying electronics and hoped to gain a career working in film production.

He added: "He was a very active lad with the Scouts. At least he died doing something he loved."

The Scout Association said it was deeply saddened by the death of Stephen, a trustee of Kent Scout County.

A spokesman said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephen's mother, Judy, and his family and friends at this time."