Tributes have been paid to an Ottery student who died in an avalanche in Scotland on Saturday.

Tom Chesters, 28, who was studying for a PhD in medical engineering in Hull, was one of four climbers swept away by snow on Glencoe.

A former student at the King’s School, he was said to be one of Britain’s best competitive orienteerers, and had a promising future ahead of him.

He was with a group of friends, all experienced climbers, who were making their descent on Bidean Nam Bian in Glencoe on Saturday when an avalanche struck at about 2pm.

Four of the six were killed, including Tom’s long-term girlfriend, Rachel Majumdar, a 29-year-old doctor, originally from Merseyside, who worked at Harrogate District Hospital.

Friends of the couple said they had been dating for several years, and had ‘such a good future together’, planning to do voluntary work oversees.

Sam Morris, 35, said the only consolation in the tragedy was they died side-by-side doing something they both loved.

The University of Hull said it was ‘deeply saddened by this loss’, and expressed ‘heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected by this tragedy, and especially to Tom’s family and friends’.

- See Friday’s Ottery Herald for the full story