Ultra-marathon champion dies while running Cape Wrath trail

David Parrish was trying to beat the record for the fastest man to complete the 234 mile trail. Ultra-marathon champion dies while running Cape Wrath Trail Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. David Parrish died while running in the Highlands David Parrish a man with curly hair and a beard smiles into the camera with his dog leaning on his shoulder A 35-year-old ultra-marathon champion from Dumfries has died while running in the Highlands. David Parrish was trying to beat the record for the fastest man to complete the Cape Wrath trail, a 234 mile (376km) route from Fort William to Cape Wrath. The former Royal Marine was found in the remote mountainous area of Kintail in the north-west Highlands on Saturday. Police Scotland said he was found in the area at about 22:25. "There are no suspicious circumstances and his next of kin are aware," a statement added. Map showing locations of Fort William, Kintail and Cape Wrath Parrish was an experienced ultra-marathon runner and won the Cape Wrath Trail race in 2023, despite only running competitively for a few years. The trail, which covers Lochaber, Knoydart, Applecross and Torridon is considered one of the most challenging routes in the UK. For his latest challenge, Parrish was running the route to fundraise for Scottish Mountain Rescue in memory of his close friend, Luke Ireland. Parrish was an experienced ultra-marathon runner A runner finishing a race with a flag wrapped around his shoulders The 20-year-old Royal Marine, from Monifeith, died while running in the mountains of Glen Cova in Angus in November 2014. The 20-year-old Royal Marine, from Monifeith, died while running in the mountains of Glen Cova in Angus Writing on his fundraising page, Parrish said mountain rescue team volunteers searched tirelessly for Luke and were available ''365 days a year to respond to emergencies in the mountains and remote areas of Scotland''. Thousands of pounds have been raised on the charity page, with many tributes made to the runner. Parrish was photographed on his way to winning the 2023 Cape Wrath ultra David Parrish in blue running gear in the hills. He is smiling. Parrish was a member of the Dumfries Running Club, where he was club champion in 2022. He began running in his late teens before building up to racing in his early 20s, taking part in a series of local 5km and 10km races. Parrish later joined the marines and previously spoke of using running as a way of decompressing from the demands of the job. After leaving the service, he began competing in Parkruns and walked the Cape Wrath Trail in 2021. Parrish was photographed running the 2023 Cape Wrath event by No Limits Photography. The company's owners, Harriet D'Alessio and Christiaan Le Roux, paid tribute to him on Tuesday. "David has always been such a joyful person and an inspirational ultra marathon athlete to spend time with," they said. "The world and the sport will be a far lesser place without him.'' Runner sets new time for 240-mile Cape Wrath Trail A man is wearing a bright orange jacket and is wearing a green baseball cap while standing at a railway station Body found in search for man missing on Highland trail Ross Kemp and Dan Snow support "final" fundraising for an exhibition of Royal Marines history. James 'Jim' Wren, a former Japanese prisoner of war, was the country's oldest Royal Marine veteran. Commando Joseph Jones, 22, admits the manslaughter of chef Cemal Yilmaz, 29, in Devon in December. BBC Verify looks at the size of the UK military after Lord Robertson criticises the government over defence spending. Three young children were taken to hospital after the crash on Pleasance Avenue in Dumfries last year. Runners signed up to the Hull event can transfer to another 10k, defer to 2027 or receive a refund. Organisers say the 2026 race, due to be held at Craven Park on 31 May, has been cancelled. Marc Lockwood ran the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert to raise funds for a local school.