Popular vet killed in Glen Coe hiking tragedy
Tributes pour in from friends for ‘caring and kind’ Martina
TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular vet who died in a hiking accident in the Highlands.
Martina Balluff was described as ‘an incredible vet’ and ‘just wonderful’ by friends and customers.
Miss Balluff is understood to have been hiking in the Glen Coe area when she died.
In a social media post, her employer, the Moray Coast Vet Group, said: ‘It is with great sadness that we have to announce that our friend and colleague Martina Balluff has died in an accident while hiking near Glen Coe.
‘We send our love to her family in Germany and her friends everywhere.
‘The practice is missing her already, and we know that many of you will, too.
‘Please be patient and supportive while we get through this difficult time together.’ According to the veterinary practice’s website, Miss Balluff joined in 2013 after a stint as a student.
She graduated from Ludwig-MaximiliansUniversity in Munich in 2013 and, after three years working in Scotland, took a sabbatical to New Zealand for work and travel.
Miss Balluff was well known for spending much of her time outdoors, hiking, climbing or kayaking.
More than 200 people commented on the vet group’s post on social media.
Chris Thomas said: ‘So terribly sad to hear this. She was just wonderful – kind and supportive at a time when I really needed that. Love and condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.’
Rebecca McIntosh said: ‘I’m so sad to read this.
‘Martina was an incredible vet and I’m so grateful for all her care over the years. My thoughts are with her family, friends and the practice.’
Stephanie Conway posted that it was ‘such sad news’, adding: ‘Thoughts to all at the practice and to Martina’s family.
‘She was an excellent vet and I’m sure will be greatly missed by all that knew her.’
Pauline Murray said: ‘So shocked and sorry to hear this sad news. Martina was a great vet and my fur babies loved her.
‘Sending condolences to all of you at the practice and to her family.’
Denise Allan said Miss Balluff was ‘such a lovely, kind, caring vet, who took such good care of all animals’, adding: ‘She will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting her.’
Last year, Cameron Steel, 35, from Glasgow, died while walking on Bidean nam Bian, to the south of Glen Coe.
Police who attended the incident last July, along with the Glencoe Mountain Rescue team and the HM Coastguard helicopter, said that Mr Steel had fallen and died at the scene.
A helicopter team recovered his body from the mountain.
Research in 2019 suggested that more men are killed on Scotland’s mountains because of their ‘gung-ho’ attitude.
Mountaineering Scotland said two women died on peaks that year, compared with ten men.
In 2018, three of the 24 victims were females and in 2017 all ten were men.
Mountaineering Scotland safety adviser Heather Morning believes that only a ‘tiny’ percentage of fatalities are women because they are more cautious when hiking and less influenced by other people during climbs.
She said: ‘Men generally will take a more “gung-ho” attitude towards risk and perhaps also be more influenced by peer pressure and the drive to succeed at all costs.
‘Women may often be more prepared within a group to share their feelings of reservation, rather than be blinkered to the dangers around them.’
Eleven people died on Scottish mountains in the winter of 201819, including three in Glen Coe.
‘Will be greatly missed by all who knew her’