A sheriff has concluded that no reasonable safety measures could have prevented the deaths of three hillwalkers who fell while roped together on a notorious Scottish ridge.
The Fatal Accident Inquiry Findings
In a determination published following a fatal accident inquiry (FAI), Sheriff Neil Wilson stated that no precautions which could reasonably have been taken would have realistically stopped the deaths of mountain guide David Fowler, 39, and his clients Graham Cox, 60, and Hazel Crombie, 64. The trio died on the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe on 5 August 2023.
The inquiry, held at Fort William Sheriff Court in August last year, heard that Mr Fowler had arranged to meet his clients at 8.30am that day for a pre-booked traverse of the ridge from east to west. When he failed to return and could not be contacted, his partner alerted police, who in turn called out Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team.
The Discovery and Likely Sequence of Events
Rescue team members discovered the three walkers at around 2am on 6 August 2023. They were found "roped together and clearly deceased" on the north side of Aonach Eagach, below a point just west of the summit of Am Bodach.
With no witnesses to the incident, Sheriff Wilson said it was impossible to be certain of the exact sequence. However, he determined it was likely that one of the three slipped or fell, causing the others to be dislodged, resulting in all three falling whilst connected by the rope. The report found no evidence that defects in the safety system contributed to the deaths.
Areas for Reflection for the Guiding Community
While stating no direct causal link to the accident was discernible, Sheriff Wilson's determination highlighted several deficiencies in the booking and preparation process. He noted there was no direct observational assessment of the clients' competence prior to the excursion, relying instead on discussion.
Furthermore, the sheriff pointed to a lack of detailed, pro-active discussions with the clients about their weight, experience level, and competence. Information provided to the clients about the "short roping" technique and a detailed check of their personal equipment were also found lacking.
Sheriff Wilson, who has four decades of mountaineering experience and 11 years in mountain rescue, described David Fowler as a "well-qualified, experienced and competent guide". He chose not to make specific recommendations but expressed hope that the mountain guiding community in Scotland would reflect on the facts of the case.
"These findings are specific to this particular accident," Sheriff Wilson wrote. "However, if there are general lessons to be learned from the deaths of David Fowler, Graham Cox and Hazel Crombie, this will require those guiding clients in the mountains of Scotland to consider whether their booking and preparation systems avoid the apparent deficiencies highlighted by this determination."
Official Response and Family Liaison
Procurator fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: "The tragic deaths of David Fowler, Graham Cox and Hazel Crombie sadly highlight the inherent risks of mountaineering."
He confirmed the determination had been provided to the families, adding: "Our thoughts are with them at this time." The inquiry was discretionary for the deaths of Mr Cox and Ms Crombie and mandatory for Mr Fowler, as he died in the course of his employment.
