First picture of climber who died in 164ft horror plunge from mountain as devastated family pays tribute

A CLIMBER who died in a 164ft plunge in the Scottish Highlands has been named by his family a Royal Marines sergeant.

Colour Sgt Richard "Reggie" Melia was with a climbing companion on Stob Dearg on 33f1 feet high Buachaille Etive Mòr in Glencoe when he slipped.

His family said his death had left "a gaping hole in our lives that will be impossible to fill".

He leaves behind a two-year-old daughter Lottie and his wife Sarah who is 26 weeks pregnant.

In a statement from the family, issued by the Royal Marines Charity, they said: "It is with broken hearts that we must inform you of the untimely death of Colour Sergeant Richard Thomas Melia ROYAL MARINES, aged 40 years old.

"Rick (also known as Reggie in the Corps) died on Saturday the 8th of April in a climbing accident whilst ascending Stob Dearg's Crowberry Ridge in Glencoe, Scotland.

"Rick was a son, brother, husband, and father, and will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and comrades. His passing has devastated us all and left a gaping hole in our lives that will be impossible to fill.

"The family and his close friends are grieving and still trying to make sense of it all, but we will provide details of the funeral in due course.

"For now, please feel free to share this post and reach out to people who knew him, and express your condolences below. However, we would appreciate it if people would refrain from directly messaging or calling the family at this time.

"We know that this news is going to be extremely hard for a lot of people to hear, so please look after each other so that you will be able to help us honour Rick's life appropriately, in due course.

"Thank you all for your support at this difficult time."

A has already raised over £9,700.

It says: "Reggie sadly passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind 2-year-old Lottie and his wife Sarah who is 26 weeks pregnant.

"We are his friends, who served with him in the military and would like to help raise money in his memory to help his beautiful young family to cover funeral costs and start a trust fund for his children.

"Reggie was a hero who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had a great sense of humour and a kind heart.

"We would love to help Sarah and Lottie at this sad and tragic time, and would appreciate any donation no matter how small."

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team sent 13 members to the incident.

In an eight-hour rescue crews carried his body off the mountain while three others climbed up to his companion, who was stuck on a ledge about 2000 feet up.

They managed to rope the commando to safety and then the quartet were airlifted by a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Inverness off the peak, which is a popular climbing route.

Deputy team leader Brian Bathurst said: "We would like to express our condolences to the man's family and friends. It was a tragic outcome sadly. He appears to have slipped on slabby rock.

"He and his companion were climbing in a pair and the conditions were fine. They were on a terrace moving on to the next stage when the accident happened. He fell about 50 metres (164ft).

"The other chap was cragfast on the terrace so he needed to be roped off."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police received a report that a man had fallen on Stob Dearg, Buachaille Etive Mòr, around 11.15am on Saturday, 8 April, 2023.

“Emergency services attended and a 40-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

It was one of four rescues the mountain rescue team carried out in a gruelling Bank Holiday period - including over several hours stretchering a dog with a broken leg to a vet after his owner had suffered a leg injury, slipping and falling on ice above the Lost Valley.

In total, the mountain rescue team clocked more than 250 man hours in callouts just over the Bank Holiday.

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