Pensioner dies after falling ill on Scots mountain range

The 79-year-old man had a medical incident whilst ascending Sgurr Nan Gillean - a peak in the northern part of the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye.

A pensioner has died after falling ill on a Scots mountain range.

The 79-year-old man had a medical incident whilst ascending Sgurr Nan Gillean - a peak in the northern part of the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye.

Emergency crews including Skye Mountain Rescue and a Coastguard helicopter were sent to the mountain around 12.40pm on Saturday, August 23.

The man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are treating his death as unexplained and say it is not believed to be suspicious.

Skye Mountain Rescue Team has told how 12 brave volunteers were flown by the Stornoway based Coastguard Rescue chopper up to the mountain to reach the casualty.

However due to low cloud they were unable to reach the man and instead were dropped as "close as possible" to the incident.

Despite the best efforts of the man's companions and the Rescue Team they were unable to revive him.

In a statement, James Stephenson, Deputy Team Leader of Skye Mountain Rescue Team said: "At 1pm on Saturday 23rd August the team was tasked by police Scotland to go to the aid of a male in his 70s who had suffered a medical incident high up on Sgurr nan Gillean. R948, the Stornoway based Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, was also tasked but couldn't reach the casualty due to the low cloudbase. R948 instead deployed 12MRT as close as possible to the incident.

"Despite the best efforts of his companions and the Rescue Team it was not possible to revive him. The team then escorted his companions off the hill and recovered his body to a position that was accessible for R948 to complete that process.

"Everyone at Skye MRT would like to convey our deepest condolences to his family. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the crew of R948 and to the management and staff of Sligachan Hotel for being there for us once again.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.40pm on Saturday, 23 August, 2025, we were made aware of a 79-year-old man having taken unwell on Sgurr Nan Gillean, Carbost.

“Emergency services attended and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The death is being treated as unexplained but not believed to be suspicious and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”