The family and friends of a man who died following a tragic accident at the Fairy Pools on Skye have spoken of their heartbreak.
Nathan Skinner was visiting the popular beauty spot with his friends on Thursday when he slipped.
His body was found at noon, the following day, after emergency services searched overnight.
The 25-year-old from Stenhousemuir was enjoying the final day of his holiday when the tragedy happened.
The group, that included Mr Skinner’s partner Dionne, were visiting the island, after enjoying a few days on the NC500.
A tour around Scotland had become an annual occasion for Mr Skinner, a car mechanic, and his close friends. During their trips they shared their love for cars, driving and adventure.
His best friend Iain Young was among the group of five.
Laughing right to the end
Speaking to The Press and Journal Mr Young, also 25, described the days leading up to the tragic incident as filled with laughter and joy, a typical trait for Mr Skinner.
Mr Young said: “Everybody was in good spirits because it was the last day. I had bought a packet of harmonicas because we had this thing on the NC500 where we would just do stupid things.
“I still had a harmonica in my pocket, and I remember we were going up, and I was blowing into it. I have no idea how to play one, but I was just making noise and we were joking around and laughing the whole way up.
“Amie, my other half, was pounding off up ahead and it was me, Nathan and Tommy, at the back traipsing along.”
It is understood Mr Skinner’s partner had stayed behind at the car park.
Mr Young said in the moments after his friend fell into the water he waited, expecting to see him surface again.
He continued: “You could see the water moving, so you expected to see him come out the other side.
“The moment he went under, I froze.
“I don’t think I wrapped my head around it fully, until the helicopter was overhead.”
A multi-agency search was immediately launched, involving coastguard teams, mountain rescue teams and police.
Mr Skinner’s body was found the following day.
‘The best of friends’
Mr Young, who lives in Falkirk, led tributes to his friend.
He said: “There is not a day we spent together, that I won’t treasure.
“I just miss him. It’s a massive loss for everybody. He didn’t know how many people were there for him, and cared for him.
“I wish he was here to see it. I really do.
“Our last night in Applecross will probably be the memory I keep with me the most, purely because it was the last night I had my best pal. It was a great night.
“I remember coming out of the toilets, Amie and Dionne were sitting there laughing and Nathan had a stupid look on his face.
“He had collapsed the chair in on himself, and he was sitting there in this half-broken deck chair as if nothing had happened. It was just who he was. He didn’t bother about anything, he just got on with things.
“Everything was always a laugh.”
‘We are heartbroken’
His family say they are “heartbroken” as they struggle to come to terms with his death.
Nathan’s aunt Alex Fleming was on holiday with her husband in Turkey when they received the news he was missing.
Speaking on behalf of the family, she described her nephew as a “caring, funny and loving guy”, who had his whole life ahead of him.
She said: “Nathan was just always a funny kid. He made people laugh and he had, curly thick blonde hair that it didn’t matter what you did with it, it just did its own thing.
“It is so tragic. At the age of 25, he should be doing things like thinking about getting a first mortgage and buying his first house.
“Nathan and his partner Dionne had been together for around eight years. They should have been thinking about when, or if, they were going to have a family and all of that sort of thing.
“In an instant, it is gone. And through an absolutely fluke and tragic accident.”
She continued: “We are heartbroken, without a doubt, but I can’t tell you the comfort that comes just from people getting in touch with messages, and sending love.
“The fact that we know people are thinking about the family is making a big difference.
”Speaking to other people and hearing their stories is giving us a smile at a time when our hearts are breaking.”
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