Friends of a climber who died in a 600ft plunge have given a mountain rescue team a specially-adapted 4×4 vehicle in his memory.
The Land Rover – named “The Bowden” after Shaun Bowden who died on 3,773ft Bidean nam Bian in March last year – will be used to help Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team reach others who get into trouble in the hills.
The 39-year-old married father-of-two was part of a five-strong group descending from the summit of the highest peak in the Glencoe area of Lochaber when the weather conditions worsened.
He lost his footing on ice and fell, resisting the temptation to grab his companions. Mr Bowden’s body was later located by the Glencoe team.
And his friends, led by Bobby Willis, 35, of London, who had been climbing with Mr Bowden, of Ware in Hertfordshire, when the accident happened, have been fundraising to provide the team with a vehicle in his memory.
The final event of their fundraising campaign was the Bowden Big Weekender – a 4×4 rally from Birmingham to the team’s base in Glencoe – in October.
Yesterday, they handed over the keys of the Land Rover, which cost about £28,000, to rescue team leader Andy Nelson.
Mr Willis said: “It was amazing to be able to deliver it to the team. We then watched them drive it out into the glen for a training exercise.
“They are calling it their first response vehicle so it will always be with the person who is on call and it will be on the first vehicle on site when they are called out.
“It was lovely to see it in the glen – it looked at home there – and really nice that it will be there in Shaun’s memory.
“It was so good to be able to give something back to Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team.”
The Land Rover has 12 seats and can carry a stretcher. It also has a top box to carry the team’s kit.
Lewis Harrop, who is one of the Glencoe team’s deputy leaders, said they were very grateful for the Land Rover, which would be a great asset to the team.