7 October 2008 926 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

A Heriot-Watt student died last week in an accidental 50ft fall from Arthur’s Seat. Forming the main part of the group of hills that dominate Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat is a popular walk with locals and tourists.

John Muir, a maths and accountancy student, lost his footing while walking home from a night out on Friday 19 September. According to police, Mr Muir, 19, was negotiating a particularly tricky trail beneath Salisbury Crags when he slipped. There is no suspicion of any wrongdoing over the incident.

Mr Muir’s body was discovered by a hiker more than 24-hours later, lying in the gorse on Queens drive – the road which runs around the circumference of the hill.

A spokesperson for the Lothian and Borders Police issued the following statement: “It would appear that the young man had been enjoying a night out with friends when he became separated from them at around 01:45 in the early hours of Friday 19 September.”

A maths and accountancy student from Edinburgh died in an accidental fall from Arthur’s seat. John Muir, a student at Heriot-Watt University, lost his footing while walking home from a night out on Friday 19th September, falling 50ft to his death. The nineteen year old was negociating a tricky trail beneath Salisbury Crags when he slipped and knocked himself unconscious. He was discovered by a hiker more than 24-hours later lying in the gorse on Queens drive, the road running around the circumference of the hill.

At around 10.30am on Saturday 20th September the Lothian and Borders police were contacted. Although an investigation is still underway, there is no suspicion of any wrongdoing over the incident. Mr Muir, a dedicated scout, was described as a “real achiever” who received his Chief Scout Gold Award and Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. He was one of the few scouts to achieve the Double Everest Award where he climbed the equivalent of 60,000ft.

A spokesperson said: “The terrain of Holyrood Park is diverse, open and, in places, extremely challenging and exposed. We advise people to keep to the paths and not attempt to stray into territory that could be potentially dangerous to them. It is important that people using the park are well equipped and prepared for any activity they wish to undertake.”