Stpehen Young, who died in the avalanche on Creag Meagaidh

The man who died in an avalanche on Creag Meagaidh on Monday was a dedicated young leader with the Scouts who had raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Stephen James Young, 18, from Borough Green, Kent, was caught in an avalanche on Monday while with a group on the mountain, north-west of Loch Laggan, between Roy Bridge and Laggan in the Highlands.

A police spokesperson said that Mr Young, a member of the Scout Network, was on an organised trip with the Scouts. The group was taking part in a winter-skills and hillwalking day.

Mr Young’s mother Judy was with the climbing party when the avalanche occurred, about 800m up the mountain. No-one else was injured in the incident.

Members of the Kinder Mountain Rescue Team, who were climbing in the area and witnessed the incident, raised the alarm.

Police received a call at 2.50pm today, Monday, to say there had been an avalanche on the 1,128m (3,701ft) mountain in Glen Spean. Initially, it was not clear whether there had been any casualties, but team members from the Lochaber and RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Teams recovered Mr Young from the avalanche.

He was flown by a Sea King helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth to Belford Hospital, Fort William, but pronounced dead.

Coire Ardair. Photo: Paul Birrell CC-BY-SA-2.0

A Scouts spokesperson said: “The Scout Association is deeply saddened to confirm the death of Stephen Young, a trustee of Kent Scout County. Stephen’s death occurred today, 15 February, following an avalanche in the Cairngorm region of Scotland.

“Stephen was part of an experienced, all-adult group who were in Cairngorms as part of their annual trip to the region to expand their winter hillwalking skills.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephen’s family and friends at this time. We are working with the authorities to support those adults involved in this tragic incident.”

Three years ago, while an Explorer Scout, Mr Young spent an entire year living under canvas to raise cash for a children’s hospice, Demelza House.

He raised more than £4,600 by sleeping in a tent for a year. At the time, his mother Judy Young, an Explorer Scout leader, said: “I am incredibly proud of him. It was a huge challenge and a big achievement.”

Coire Ardair and Coire Choille-rais are the main areas on the mountain for winter climbing.

Mr Young is the fourth man to die in avalanches in the Scottish Highlands this winter. Rupert Rosedale and William Wilkinson died on Ben Nevis’s north face and Chris Astill was killed the same day, 30 December, by an avalanche on Liathach in Torridon.