A cheese and wine evening at a local village hall ended in tragedy when a visitor fell into a fast-flowing burn and died.
The 66-year-old was walking to the home of a friend in Kilchrenan, south of Oban in Argyll, from the charity fundraiser in the hall on Saturday night.
It is understood that the man, who has not been named by police, had travelled to Kilchrenan with his wife from another part of Scotland and intended to stay with friends who live locally.
Councillor Julie McKenzie, who represents the Oban North and Lorn ward on Argyll and Bute Council, said: “This is obviously a tragic accident. I would express condolences to his wife and family.
“Kilchrenan is a close-knit community and the local people will be devastated that this has happened.”
The man’s body was found in Kilchrenan Burn in the early hours of Sunday morning after a search operation involving police and the fire service was launched.
A police spokeswoman said: “About 5.25am on Sunday March 19 the body of a 66-year-old man was discovered in a burn in the Kilchrenan area of Argyll, near Taynuilt.
“Inquiries are on-going to establish the circumstances surrounding the death which, at this time, police are not treating as suspicious. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Church elder Marilyn Henderson said that prayers were said for the man’s family at Kilchrenan Church of Scotland on Saturday morning.
She added that she believed the couple were walking to their friends’ house when the man fell in. She said the burn was in full spate.
The road in the village was closed to traffic for several hours following the incident, and a local forest road was used instead.
Saturday’s fundraising event, attended by around 40 people, was to raise funds for the upkeep of the hall.
Meanwhile, a man is still missing after being last seen going out on a boat at Loch Awe, in a nearby part of Argyll.
Extensive searches have been under way for Joachim Brolly, 59, who has not been seen since about 3pm on Thursday March 9.
The last sighting of him was at the south end of Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute where he got into a boat at Torran Bay Hostel.
