A man who died when he fell into the water at the scenic Fairy Pools on Skye has been named as Nathan Skinner.
The 25-year-old, from Stenhousemuir, was visiting the popular beauty spot with pals on Thursday May 18 when he slipped on a rock and fell into the waters. Emergency services searched through the night to find him and tragically recovered his body at around 12pm the next day.
Pals of the mechanic said it had been the final day of a trip that had taken them around the NC500 tourist route, an annual tradition for the passionate car fan. Speaking to the Press and Journal, friend Iain Young, 25, said Nathan had been laughing and joking moments before tragedy struck.
He said: "Everybody was in good spirits because it was the last day. We were joking around and laughing the whole way up.
"The moment he went under, I froze. I don’t think I wrapped my head around it fully, until the helicopter was overhead.”
He added: “I just miss him. It’s a massive loss for everybody."
Coastguard helicopters, police divers, ambulance crews and mountain rescue teams had been drafted in for the search effort. Nathan's family told the newspaper they were "heartbroken" and struggling to come to terms with his unexpected death.
Aunt Alex Fleming said: “It is so tragic. At the age of 25, he should be doing things like thinking about getting a first mortgage and buying his first house.
"In an instant, it is gone. And through an absolutely fluke and tragic accident.”
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