A hiker fell nearly 100ft to his death most likely because he had been carrying his dog with one hand, according to a rescuer who helped find the missing man and his canine.
Following a three-day search, Kyle Sambrook and his beagle, Bane, were found dead by Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team on Saturday, February 25.
The 33-year-old had traveled with Bane to Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, with loved ones expecting him back in West Yorkshire, England, last Tuesday, The Daily Record reports.
However, he never returned and was not in contact with anyone since he arrived in Glencoe on February 18.
Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team wrote on its official Instagram account regarding the tragedy: "Yesterday afternoon, volunteer rescuers searching for Kyle Sambrook found the bodies of a man and a dog in a deep gorge above the Fionn Ghleann.
"An attempt was made to recover them by helicopter but was unsuccessful due to the terrain, the helicopter was then re-tasked meaning they had to be lowered and carried off the hill by hand."
Sambrook's loved ones have been informed about the fatal accident and have since met with rescuers in order to share their gratitude.
Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, was one of four rescuers who found the two bodies. He said the man had fallen almost 100ft into a gully. At this moment in time, Bathurst believes Sambrook fell due to a number of factors, per The Daily Record.
It's likely, according to Bathurst, that Sambrook was carrying his dog with one hand. The Yorkshire native also had a heavy rucksack and was walking around steep ground.
Sambrook had driven to Glencoe, wanting to scale the 3351ft-high Buachaille Etive Mor with his dog. When the alarm was raised about the missing man, over 40 rescuers were dispatched to search the area over a period of 12 hours on Friday.
The search resumed the following day, which is when the tragic discovery was made.
Police told VT: "Around 2:15PM on Saturday, February 25, 2023, the bodies of a man and a dog were recovered by Mountain Rescue Teams and HM Coastguard in the Glencoe area.
"They have now been identified as Kyle Sambrook and his dog Bane, who were reported missing earlier this week. The family wish to thank all involved in the search and have requested their privacy be respected. There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal."
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help Sambrook's family in the wake of his sudden death.
Organizer Katie Westwood said: "It breaks my heart to even be writing this."
She went on to say that the late 33-year-old had always wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread in his favorite place, Scotland.
Westwood went on: "We would like to also do the same with Bane, so Kyle can remain with his best friend, son, his everything. Anything you can donate, no matter how big or small, will help his family hugely. Thank you in advance."
Following hundreds of donations, the fundraiser has amassed nearly double its initial goal of £5,000 ($6,000).
