A Speyside community has been left “devastated” after a young gamekeeper was killed in a quad biking accident – nine years after his sister tragically died.
David Taylor, who comes from a gamekeeping family, died after falling from his quad while working on the Muckrach Estate in Dulnain Bridge.
It is believed the 27-year-old’s fiancee, Christie McInnes, raised the alarm shortly before 6pm on Tuesday.
An air ambulance, road ambulances, a trauma team, police and two fire crews rushed to Clachbain Farm, but Mr Taylor could not be saved.
It is the second tragedy to hit the Taylor family in nine years, after his 16-year-old sister Sophie was accidentally shot dead by her boyfriend Calum Murray as he cleaned his gun.
The 18-year-old trainee gamekeeper was so distraught that he then turned the gun on himself at his home in the Glenavon Estate, near Tomintoul.
Relatives of Mr Taylor said his parents, David and Katie, did not want to speak last night.
But members of the community – which rallied around after the tragic 2011 shooting – said they would do all they can to support the family.
One resident said: “It’s unbelievable. It’s just so, so tragic, the whole village is devastated. I feel for them both, they will be absolutely distraught.
“Any death of a young person is terrible but they’ve lost both children in very tragic circumstances.
“It’s difficult to visit at this time and there can’t be a big funeral. But I’m sure they are aware of the feelings and sympathies of the village towards them. Like all small places, everyone is ready to support them if needed.”
Another said: “We are very, very sorry for the family. It’s a dreadful thing to have happened, an awful tragedy.”
It is understood Mr Taylor was working for a sporting tenant when the accident happened.
As he was at work, a fatal accident inquiry will be held in due course.
Alex Hogg, chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association said: “This awful news has shaken the gamekeeping community.
“The whole family is held in such high regard. To lose young lives in this way is just beyond words. It is almost impossible to imagine the pain being felt just now by everyone connected to the tragedy and the SGA passes on our deepest and sincere condolences.”
