A CHARITY climb on a Scottish mountain took a dramatic turn when a team of fundraisers got lost and had to call the emergency services.

Members of Team Jamie, which included three children, reached the peak of Goatfell, on Arran, but were unable to find their way back down as heavy mist rolled in.

They had been raising money for the Survivors Of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) group in memory of Johnstone man Jamie Hepburn, who tragically took his own life a year ago.

Sarah Hepburn, who is Jamie’s sister, told the Gazette: “It was horrific. The weather was really bad and the mist came down. It was cloudy and windy and we couldn’t see a thing. We got lost and couldn’t find the track.

“I called the Coastguard and they contacted the police, who were out looking for us.

“Fortunately, we met an American woman climber who was able to help us get off the mountain but it took us four hours to get back down, compared to only two to get up - that’s how bad it was.

“I was able to call the police and tell them we were okay.

“I had never climbed a mountain before. It started well but, near the summit, the weather got really bad.”

Dad-of-three Jamie was just 25 when he was found dead in a wooded area off Milliken Road, in Kilbarchan, after celebrating a 30th birthday party with friends.

Experts at SOBS helped his loved ones try to come to terms with their loss.

And the family, including his 11-year-old nephew Lewis Brown, decided to conquer Goatfell, which is 2,866 feet high, to raise cash that would help other people in their situation.

Lewis said: “Although we got lost on the way down, it ended okay and I am glad we did it.

“I wanted to do something in memory of my uncle Jamie. He was the coolest, best uncle and was always there for me.”

Undeterred by their adventure on Goatfell, the family is now considering a sponsored climb on The Cobbler, near Arrochar.

To support their fundraising drive, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Sadiehepburn