A coroner has praised a climber who desperately tried to rescue his best friend after he plunged down a mountainside in the Scotland Highlands.

Former Simon Langton pupil Corin Castle, 21, from Stelling Minnis, died from multiple injuries in the fall while trekking in the Cairngorms last July.

In statements read at an inquest into his death, Michael Lawson described how Corin had been walking ahead of him when he slipped on wet grass and began to tumble uncontrollably down the mountain side.

He scrambled down to reach him and found him lying in a waterfall with his head in the water and suffering from severe head injuries and broken bones.

He lifted his head out of the water but he began to slide down further. He again climbed down to him and again took his head out of water. He then wrapped Corin to keep him warm.

But Mr Lawson, also 21, found he had lost his mobile phone in his descent so had to walk for two hours to get help.

He was eventually able to find a passing hillwalker and borrow a phone to dial 999.

When rescuers finally reached Corin they found him in a steep gully with his head and face in running water. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Central and South East Kent Coroner Rachel Redman said: “Mr Lawson tried to rescue his friend twice and got help. His efforts to do that should be applauded.’’

The tragedy has already been investigated by the Procurator Fiscal in Inverness, who confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances and it was a tragic mountaineering accident.

Mrs Redman said she would adopt that finding and also give a conclusion of accidental death.

Corin, who had a mountaineering leadership qualification, and Michael had been friends since playschool and travelled the world together on adventures.

“Like any parents, we used to worry when he was away travelling somewhere. But I know he took his trekking seriously and was careful" - Lewana Castle

He was studying plant science at Nottingham, having previously attended both St Anselm’s and Simon Langton Boys’ schools in the city and had worked at the Thompson’s garden centre in Petham.

His parents Malcolm and Lewana Castle, run a B&B and holiday accommodation at Great Field Farm in Stelling Minnis.

After the tragedy Mrs Castle said he was not a risk-taker and his death was “sheer bad luck”.

Mrs Castle said: “Like any parents, we used to worry when he was away travelling somewhere. But I know he took his trekking seriously and was careful.”