A businessman whose stress-busting walking holiday in the Highlands ended in tragedy was found dead after hypothermia made him strip off, an inquest has heard.
Jason Gates, an accountant with his family’s employment consultancy, was reported missing on March 17 after his beloved pet spaniel Max was found on farmland at Drumnadrochit.
His body was found on May 3 in a dense forest on nearby Cnoc A’Bhuachaille.
Portsmouth coroner David Horsley said yesterday that a post mortem examination revealed the 36-year-old died of hypothermia.
He said “paradoxical undressing” was a symptom of the condition which leads people to remove their clothes as it makes them feel hot despite the actual temperature.
Mr Horsley told Mr Gates’s family: “He’d been enjoying walking his dog when he has developed hypothermia and he has died. His death is due to a tragic accident.
“I am so awfully sorry. What a terrible shock for you and to have it drawn out for so long in the time it took to find him. I am entirely satisfied that Jason has died due to an accident.”
Mr Gates’ father, Malcolm, told the inquest that his son had been suffering from stress and they had “suspended” him from work to make him take a holiday.
He said: “He was stressed, we wanted him to have a break from the business because he hadn’t had a holiday for many years.”
The inquest heard that Mr Gates, a bachelor, had a history of depression.
His micro-chipped dog had inadvertently raised the alarm that he was missing. Max was caught by police after killing a number of sheep while running loose.
Mr Gates’ Audi Quattro estate was later found abandoned in the car park by the Drumnadrochit tourist office. He was found by a police dog team after an extensive land, air, river and loch search.
Speaking after the inquest, Jason’s sister Alison Ware, 37, said: “He was a lovely, fun guy, a gentle giant. It’s just a tragedy.
“We want to thank the police, the volunteers and all the search and rescue teams for helping find our Jason because without them he would not have been found and we’re so grateful that he’s been found.”
