A keen hiker died from exposure and hypothermia after becoming separated from his walking group in poor weather in the Scottish Highlands.
Jaroslav Ringart, a 43-year-old married dad who lived in Hensingham, Whitehaven, was remembered as a larger than life character and a true gent, who was always smiling as tributes were paid following his death earlier this year.
Polish-born Jaroslav had lived in the UK for 15 years and worked as a head engineer at Shortridge Laundry in Lillyhall, near Workington.
He had gone walking in the Three Sisters of Glencoe area, near Ballachulish.
But on February 10, Glencoe mountain rescue team learned Jaroslaw had become separated from group members concerned about being lost in extreme weather conditions, rain and poor visibility due to low cloud and strong winds.
“It would have been gusting at least 60-70mph which made walking and searching very difficult,” a team spokesman said in a statement read this morning at an inquest into Jaroslaw’s death.
More than a dozen rescuers responded, separating into smaller groups as they carried out an extensive search on and around the summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan, a 3,658ft peak. The search was narrowed following the discovery of laced boots near the summit and Jaroslav was found around 165ft away.
There were no signs of life and he was pronounced dead. Due to the darkness, poor weather conditions and visibility, recovery was postponed until first light the following morning when he was carried and lowered further down the mountain to a location which a helicopter crew was able to access.
“The casualty did not have many layers on — a base layer, fleece and waterproof jacket,” stated the rescue team spokesman.
“It was cold on the summit and there was a significant wind chill. Members of the walking group mentioned that the casualty had been stumbling and falling. They did to know the reason this happened but exposure could have certainly been a factor.”
In response to this, Cumbria coroner Margaret Taylor said to Jaroslav’s wife, Beata, who attended the hearing: “All I can comment upon is that I’ve certainly heard of instances where people have begun to suffer from hypothermia and can become very disorientated. I wonder whether or not that is what happened. That may be what the explanation is.”
But Ms Taylor expressed regret that some information was lacking in the case. For example, no statements had been taken from other members of the hiking group.
“There is some information you would like to have known (which) we have not been able to find out the answers to,” said the coroner, who explained: “We are reliant on what Scotland send us.”
The coroner added: “I’m so very sorry you find yourself in the situation that you do.”
Beata said she had not spoken to members of the walking group since the tragedy. She believed the expedition leader had been checking weather forecasts beforehand, and suspected members had not expected the severe weather they ultimately faced.
A pathologist had ruled out foul play, found no significant injuries and concluded that death was due to exposure and hypothermia.
Announcing her conclusions, Ms Taylor said of Jaroslaw: “He’d become separated from his walking party, in extreme weather conditions. He was found deceased by Glencoe mountain rescue on the north east summit of Stob Coire nan Lochan, and he died as a consequence of exposure and hypothermia.
“My conclusion is that he has died as a result of an accident. He went out that day with the best of intentions, hoping to have a nice, healthy day. Things obviously took a turn.”
Beata had earlier said of her husband: “He always loved going outdoors, hiking, paddle boarding, biking and other activities. He truly loved life and his family,”
