The former employer of a climber who died after a fall in the Aladdin’s Buttress area of the Cairngorms has paid tribute to the talented engineer.
Peter Nielsen, 32, from Tranent, East Lothian, had worked for Fracino, a Birmingham-based coffee machine manufacturer as a research and development engineer until just three weeks ago.
The tragic accident took place on Good Friday.
Mr Nielsen had arrived with the company in 2009, as a Wolverhampton University product design post-graduate student on a three-month work placement.
Adrian Maxwell, managing director of Fracino, said: “We were nearing completion of our first prototype for the domestic market and thought it would be useful to get a graduate’s perspective – and an excellent project for him to get involved with. Peter subsequently proved such a great asset that he was offered the post of junior product design engineer.
“He was an intelligent, talented, loyal dedicated member of staff and his department grew three-fold during his years here – before diligently putting everything in place for his successor to pick up the reins when he left. Peter really was a rare breed; a gentleman, a scholar and a credit to his family of whom he often spoke. He will be sadly missed by everyone who had the good fortune to have known him.”
Mr Nielsen was an experienced climber who was with an organised party when he fell. He was reached by the mountain rescue service and airlifted to Raigmnore Hospital, Inverness, where he died of his injuries.