Death remains a mystery after brother lost sight of outdoor sports enthusiast beyond ledge
AN OUTDOOR sports enthusiast from Birmingham died after plunging into a river while abseiling in a Highlands beauty spot.
Administrator James Schneeberger, 35, drowned after he became entangled in the rope he was using, an inquest heard.
The tragedy happened at the 40-metre deep Dundonnell Gorge in Ross-shire, a hotspot for adventure sports fans.
Mr Schneeberger, who had moved from Birmingham to the Scottish town of Dunfermline, was abseiling down the gorge at around 2pm on August 5 last year with his brother Martin. He had crossed a ledge, and his brother lost sight of him.
Martin called the mountain rescue service, who discovered Mr Schneeberger’s body in the river below six hours later. His abseiling rope had become wrapped around his neck, and there were no signs of life.
A post-mortem examination subsequently revealed he had died from drowning after becoming entangled in the rope. He had also suffered a minor injury which might have been caused by being swept along by the tumbling water.
Birmingham coroner Louise Hunt said: “On August 5 he was abseiling down the Dundonnell Gorge with his brother, at around 2pm above fast-flowing water. He was lost to sight and his brother rang the emergency services.
“He was found by a mountain rescue team submerged in water with the abseiling rope entangled around his neck.
“How he came to be submerged in that way we do not know.”
She recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Reports at the time of the tragedy suggested that Mr Schneeberger was on holiday in the area, and had been walking in the area.
HM Coastguard received the distress call at 3.30pm, sparking a major response from emergency personnel from across the north.
Coastguard rescue teams from Gairloch, Ullapool, Loch Ewe and Achiltibuie were all dispatched to the scene alongside the Coastguard Rescue helicopter. Firefighters and police were also on hand to search for the missing walker.
The effort was spearheaded by the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, for whom members of Mr Schneeberger’s family have been raising funds.
The Dundonnell Canyon is a magnet for adventure sports fans. Guides promise “Non-stop action from the very beginning, jumps, slides and abseils all contained in this awe-inspiring 40m canyon.”
Evan Jenkins, world-renowned canyoneer and guide, describes it as “one of the best canyons I’ve done in the world”.
The area, however, has been the scene of a number of accidents in recent years, including the death of a 78-year-old woman who fell down the nearby Corrieshalloch Gorge while walking her dog.
A separate fundraising page – “Remembering James Schneeberger” – has been set up by fellow enthusiasts carrying out treks in his memory, with funds going to the Venture Trust, which offers wilderness-based personal development programmes.