A teenager from Inverness has become one of the youngest mountain rescuers in Scotland. Matthew Knapman, aged 17 and a sixth-year pupil at Inverness Royal Academy, was inspired to volunteer after he was rescued following a mountain bike accident near Golspie in 2022. He spent a year on probation with Assynt Mountain Rescue Team, one of the largest areas to cover in Scotland, and he hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a permanent member of the team.
Matthew said that after being carried to safety on a spinal board, he wanted to “give something back”. He said: “It really inspired me to find out what mountain rescue does – and how I can help them.” His previous climbing experience includes an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, last year.
He first volunteered to help with Assynt’s equipment checks and fundraising as part of his work towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award and was then offered a probationary period with the potential to become a full member.
Assynt MRT comprises around 30 members, including Matthew’s father, who has been with the team for eight years. They cover an area of about 4.660 sq miles (7,500 sq km), which includes parts of Caithness and Sutherland.
Matthew has already attended two call-outs – one for an 83-year-old walker who needed a torch, some jelly babies and encouragement, and another for a missing person report in John O’Groats. He said he would have the support of his family and the rest of the team if faced with a serious situation.
Assynt team leader Tim Hamlet said Matthew had the character and enthusiasm required for mountain rescue. Paul Knapman, Matthew’s father, said he was proud of his son’s capabilities and added: “The pride is bursting out of my heart.”
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