'Lessons to be learned': Three climbers likely died on Glencoe mountain ridge after one slipped

The death of three climbers who fell off a cliff in Glencoe while roped together was likely caused by one slipping, a fatal accident inquiry has found.

David Fowler, 39, Graham Cox, 60, and Hazel Crombie, 64, died after falling from the Aonach Eagach ridge in August 2023.

The three climbers had been reported missing on August 5 before their bodies were found by Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) volunteers.

The climb along Aonach Eagach, Gaelic for “the Notched Ridge”, covers 10km and includes two Munros – Meall Dearg and Sgorr Nam Fiannaidh.

It shrinks to three metres at its narrowest and stands at an elevation of up to 968m at its highest.

The fatal accident inquiry heard that David Fowler, a mountain guide and owner of West Coast Mountain Guides Limited, had arranged to meet two clients, Mr Cox and Ms Crombie, at the car park in Glencoe for a pre-booked excursion to traverse the length of the Aonach Eagach ridge from east to west on August 5.

The area where the climbers were recovered. Google Maps

The alarm was raised by Mr Fowler’s partner after he failed to return from the excursion and was unable to be reached by telephone.

She contacted the police, who then alerted the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team. Their bodies were discovered around 2am on August 6.

The group were found roped together and clearly deceased, on the north side of the Aonach Eagach ridge, below a point just west of the summit of Am Bodach.

Sheriff Neil Wilson determined that the likely cause of the accident was a slip or fall by one of the three climbers, resulting in the others being dislodged and all three falling while roped together.

The trio fell down a steep grassy area and over a 15 – 20 metre cliff, coming to rest on a scree slope below on the northern flank of the ridge.

The inquiry found that there was a lack of detailed information about short roping provided to the clients, including through online advertising and pro-active discussions around the possible utilisation of the rope system, and its inherent risks, on the Aonach Eagach ridge.

It was heard that there was also a lack of discussions with the clients about their weight, level of experience and competence and general expectations, a lack of information on the proposed guide: client ratio on the day, and no assessment of the clients’ competence by way of direct observation.

However, it was not ruled out that detailed phone conversations may have taken place between Mr Fowler and his clients regarding competence, experience and equipment.

Two expert witnesses told the inquiry that the footwear worn by Mr Cox and Mrs Crombie was also not ideal for a traverse of the Aonach Eagach ridge.

No recommendations were made by Sheriff Wilson, who said there was no way to establish a direct link between the facts and the accident, and no evidence as to whom the recommendations might be addressed.

He stated: “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.”

“It is appropriate to end on a more personal note”, he concluded.

“I should start by stating that I have over four decades of mountaineering experience and have been a member of a Mountain Rescue Team for 11 years.

“The subject matter of this Inquiry is very much of personal interest to me.”

Sheriff Wilson thanked family members and members of the Glencoe MRT for their bravery.

Following the publication of the determination, procurator fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: “The tragic deaths of David Fowler, Graham Cox, and Hazel Crombie sadly highlight the inherent risks of mountaineering.

“The FAI followed a thorough and comprehensive investigation by the procurator fiscal, who ensured that the full facts and circumstances of these tragic deaths were presented in evidence.

“The sheriff’s detailed findings note areas of concern which the mountain guiding community should consider when booking and preparing for excursions

“The determination has been provided to the families, and our thoughts are with them at this time.” 