A record bid on one of Britain's toughest mountain routes has ended in tragedy for a rising star of Scottish ultrarunning. David Parrish, a 35-year-old former Royal Marine from Dumfries, died while attempting a solo, unsupported speed record on the 234-mile Cape Wrath trail, which includes long stretches of challenging terrain, the Guardian reports. He was found late Saturday in remote Kintail in the northwest Scottish Highlands after his GPS tracker showed no movement; police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
Parrish was running to raise money for Scottish Mountain Rescue in memory of close friend and fellow runner Luke Ireland, who died of hypothermia during a Scottish mountain run in 2014. The charity, which found and recovered his body, called Parrish a "generous, warm-hearted and inspiring" member of its community. "David's dedication to honouring his friend's memory, while raising funds to support our service, truly moved us all," a spokesman said.
The Cape Wrath trail is considered one of the most challenging in the UK, the BBC reports. In his first ultra race, the Cape Wrath Ultra in 2023, Parrish won with a time of 45:28:48, the second-fastest in the race's history. Current record holder Pawel Cymbalista, who had advised Parrish before the attempt, said the news had "shaken him to the core," stressing the serious risks of the unmarked, boggy route where he saw only a handful of people during his own run. Donations to Parrish's fundraiser have surged past $31,000.
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