Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 9:16am

Dunfermline postman killed in climbing plunge

by Gary Fitzpatrick

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A DUNFERMLINE couple, holidaying in the United States, have returned home after receiving the devastating news that their son was killed in a Glencoe climbing tragedy.

David Candlish (26) died on Saturday in a fall while climbing with friends on Anoach Eagach ridge in Glencoe.

David, who lived in Mid Brae, was a postman. Flowers have been placed outside the sorting office in Woodmill Road in his memory and the news has shocked friends and family throughout West Fife

He was also well-known as a former barman at the Old Inn and PJs and was the son of former Raith Rovers footballer Chris Candlish, now a community coach with the Pars.

Mr Candlish and his wife Edna, who were on holiday in Las Vegas, had received a text message from David saying he was climbing the ridge.

When they could not get a reply later when checking to see if he had descended safely the couple realised something was wrong. Knowing that their son always responded quickly to their text messages, they hoped that the worst that had happened was that he may have been hurt but later received the terrible news on the telephone.

The couple flew home on Tuesday and have been inundated with messages of support from family and friends.

Mr Candlish said, 'David was a free spirit. He played fives with his friends, he ran for Pitreavie, he liked climbing and the latest thing he was taking up was cycling. It"s just hard to take this in. We just expect him to come walking into the room.

'We knew something was wrong when he didn"t get back to us and we got the phone call that night.'

His mum said, 'He was always happy and contented, very popular and no-one had a bad word to say about him. He enjoyed life.'

David"s sister, Lauren (23), is a well-known athlete with Pitreavie AAC and David also ran with them and took part in many road races over the years.

He also travelled the world, spending ten months in Australia three years ago and had not long returned from a holiday going around Canada.

Mrs Candlish said, 'Whenever he was away he would be texting back to find out the Pars score. He loved going to the football and meeting up with his friends.'

David had been working on Saturday before heading north with his friends. They had decided to spend the night camping in Glencoe and David called his uncle from the summit of the ridge to ask him to go around to his parents home to see to their cats.

David had started work with the post office straight from school, having been a pupil at Queen Anne High.

His colleagues said the workplace was 'very subdued' this week. Mark Newton, Communications Workers Union area rep, said, 'David was well-liked, always up to mischief and lived life to the full.'

David"s funeral will take place at Dunfermline Crematorium on Tuesday. Mrs Candlish said, 'He always had a football top on and so if people want to wear their Pars tops at the funeral that"s fine.'