A man is walking all the way from Oban to Dundee dressed as Batman to thank a mountain rescue team for its efforts when his relatives died in a plane crash.
Engineer David Rous, 28, and his GP wife Margaret Ann Rous, 37, died when their single-engined PA 28 Piper Cherokee crashed into a hillside near Oban on April 4 last year after vanishing from radar.
The couple, from Newport-on-Tay, were flying the single-engined plane from Dundee to the isle of Tiree to visit Dr Rous’s mother Catriona.
The wreckage of the aircraft was found by Oban Mountain Rescue Team on Beinn nan Lus, 1,640ft above sea level in an area of Glen Kinglas by Loch Etive north-east of Oban.
An investigation by the AAIB found that the crash may have been caused by the pilot losing control while turning back in poor weather.
George Bruce, who lives on Tiree, is taking on the 124mile walk from Oban to Dundee with his dog Strummer, the Cockapoo, who is dressed as Robin.
Mr Bruce, a painter and decorator, is the brother in law of the couple.
He met members of the mountain rescue team yesterday at Oban Ferry Terminal when he set off on his epic journey.
He said: “I lost two family members last year in a plane accident and it was these guys that went out and did the horrible job of bringing them in and dealing with the crash site.”
He added: “I decided to take on this challenge to promote and show our appreciation of all the hard and sometimes very sensitive work carried out by the team at Oban Mountain Rescue.
“When Margaret Ann and Dave were flying home up to the isle of Tiree, the plane got into difficulty and resulted in a fatal crash. Oban Mountain Rescue Team were the first response and had the gruelling task of first identifying the site and dealing with the aftermath to which family and friends of Margaret Ann and Dave will always be in debt.
“This is a fantastic cause.”
So far he has raised £1,800 and he hopes to collect more.
Roger Parry, treasurer of Oban Mountain Rescue Team, said: “The family and friends of David and Margaret Ann have been extremely supportive of Oban Mountain Rescue Team.”