TRIBUTES have been paid to a Scottish biologist who fell to his death while ice climbing in Canada.
Neil Mackenzie was one of three climbers who were killed after falling almost 2,000ft on Mount Joffre in British Columbia on Sunday.
The 31-year-old, from Inverness, and his friends Elena Cernicka and Stephanie Grothe had split from a larger group when the incident happened.
When they failed to return, the other group members went looking for them and raised the alarm when their bodies were discovered in a crevasse below the peak.
The University of British Columbia's Varsity Outdoor Club paid tribute to member Mr Mackenzie, known as Bell.
In a statement, it said: "With great sadness, the VOC mourns the tragic deaths of Stephanie Grothe, Neil Mackenzie and Elena Cernicka.
"Stephanie and Neil were very active members of the VOC. Elena was a friend of Neil's, but not a member of the VOC. Their trip was privately organised among the three and two other friends, and not an official VOC trip."
The statement described Mr Mackenzie as "immensely cheerful" and the "epitome of the proverbial Scottish hard man".
"Neil was passionate about the mountains," it added. "He was an immensely cheerful person, always looking for the next adventure and always good for sharing a drink and a good conversation with.
"He found adventure anywhere and brought humour with him everywhere he went. Any trip with him was guaranteed to be fun.
"To us, he was the epitome of the proverbial Scottish hard man.
"He dedicated a lot of his time to instructional trips with the club, always providing encouraging words to struggling participants. We all will miss him a lot.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their families and all their friends."
The club also paid tribute to Ms Grothe, describing her as a "constant inspiration".
The statement added: "We all loved her excitement and infectious joy when it came to the mountains and the outdoors."
Mr Mackenzie achieved a degree in virology from the University of Glasgow in 2005. He then moved to the University of Dundee's Roslin Institute to do a PhD and became a member of the institute.
He is understood to have been an experienced climber, having toured widely in Scotland, the Alps, the Canadian Rockies and Alaska.
Friend David McCallum told of his shock at the climber's death on Twitter, posting: "Oh Man, Bell (Neil) was a mate. So sad."
A statement from the coroner said the climbers had fallen almost 2,000ft down a passage on the mountain in the Pemberton area, north of Whistler.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the coroner are investigating the deaths.
The coroner said: "The families of all three victims have been notified of their deaths. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed there had been a British victim.
A spokesman said: "We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."
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