Ultra-marathon Champion Dies While Running Cape Wrath Trail

A 35-year-old ultra-marathon champion from Dumfries has died while moving successful nan Highlands.

David Parrish was trying to hit nan grounds for nan fastest man to complete nan Cape Wrath trail, a 234 mile (376km) way from Fort William to Cape Wrath.

The erstwhile Royal Marine was recovered successful nan distant mountainous area of Kintail successful nan north-west Highlands connected Saturday.

Police Scotland said he was recovered successful nan area astatine astir 22:25. "There are nary suspicious circumstances and his adjacent of kin are aware," a connection added.

Parrish was an knowledgeable ultra-marathon runner and won nan Cape Wrath Trail title successful 2023, contempt only moving competitively for a fewer years.

The trail, which covers Lochaber, Knoydart, Applecross and Torridon is considered 1 of nan astir challenging routes successful nan UK.

For his latest challenge, Parrish was moving nan way to fundraise for Scottish Mountain Rescue successful representation of his adjacent friend, Luke Ireland.

Writing connected his fundraising page, Parrish said upland rescue squad volunteers searched tirelessly for Luke and were disposable ''365 days a twelvemonth to respond to emergencies successful nan mountains and distant areas of Scotland''.

Thousands of pounds person been raised connected nan kindness page, pinch galore tributes made to nan runner.

Parrish was a personnel of nan Dumfries Running Club, wherever he was nine champion successful 2022.

He began moving successful his precocious teens earlier building up to racing successful his early 20s, taking portion successful a bid of section 5km and 10km races.

Parrish later joined nan marines and antecedently said of utilizing moving arsenic a measurement of decompressing from nan demands of nan job.

After leaving nan service, he began competing successful Parkruns and walked nan Cape Wrath Trail successful 2021.

Parrish was photographed moving nan 2023 Cape Wrath arena by No Limits Photography.

The company's owners, Harriet D'Alessio and Christiaan Le Roux, paid tribute to him connected Tuesday.

"David has ever been specified a joyful personification and an inspirational ultra marathon jock to walk clip with," they said.

"The world and nan athletics will beryllium a acold lesser spot without him.''