An ultra marathon runner who died while attempting to beat a record in memory of his friend was getting married in two weeks – and was in the midst of writing his speech.
David Parrish, 35, was trying to complete the fastest-ever 234-mile-long crossing of the Cape Wrath in honour of his late friend, Luke Ireland.
The body of the former Royal Marine and elite athlete was found in the remote Kintail mountains in the northwest Highlands at around 10.25pm on Saturday. His cause of death is unknown.
His fiancé and partner of seven years, Jade Lau, has revealed Mr Parrish died while they were making final preparations and counting down the days to their wedding.
Ms Lau said: ‘We were putting together playlists, writing speeches.
‘So on receiving the news, I felt that what I knew about the next couple of days, coming months, coming years, is quite scattered now.
‘I’m trying to focus on the fact the world keeps moving and I’ll try to as well.’
The design manager described Mr Parrish as ‘full of life, funny and loving’, adding that he had been ‘buzzing’ in the lead-up to the run.
Mr Parrish, from Dumfries, was attempting to beat the record for the fastest man to complete the Cape Wrath trail – a 234-mile route connecting Fort William with Cape Wrath.
Ms Lau said she was ‘massively’ proud of her fiancé, despite being ‘cautious’ of his challenges he undertook. Speaking to BBC Scotland News, she added that she hopes he is ‘remembered for being the complete force of nature in spirit and ability.’
The couple, who lived in Glasgow, frequently visited the Highlands in their van for hikes and runs with their dog Munro. They completed the Cape Wrath route together in 2021, and it was during a hiking trip in the Glen Coe region that Mr Parrish chose to propose.
Mr Parrish was raising money for Scottish Mountain Rescue, after his friend Royal Marine Luke Ireland died at the age of 20 from hypothermia while running around Glen Clova in November 2014.
Writing on the fundraising site, the former Royal Marine said mountain rescue team volunteers searched tirelessly for his friend Mr Ireland – and were available ‘365 days a year to respond to emergencies in the mountains and remote areas of Scotland’.
The fundraiser has now raised more than £30,000 – a result Ms Lau said Mr Parrish would have been very ‘chuffed’ about, especially given the number of people who have donated.
Ms Lau last heard from her fiancé as he ran into the Knoydart Forest, a section of he route where he had warned she would likely lose signal.
She and his friends called the police after not hearing from him for period of time, after which he was classified as a ‘high-risk missing person’.
Ms Lau was asked to drive to the police station in Kyle of Lochalsh, where she was told the news of his death. She identified Mr Parrish’s body the following day.
She said she now questions how she will ‘view’ the Cape Wrath trail, but added she may one day return with their dog and ‘feel like he will be there with us’.
Mr Parrish began running in his late teens before building up to racing in his early 20s, taking part in a series of local 5km and 10km races.
He later joined the marines and previously spoke of using running as a way of decompressing from the demands of the job.
After leaving the service, he began competing in Parkruns and walked the Cape Wrath Trail in 2021.
Mr Parrish was a member of the Dumfries Running Club where he was club champion in 2022.
A seasoned ultra–marathoner, Mr Parrish had previously dominated the Cape Wrath Trail race in 2023, a remarkable feat considering he had only entered the world of competitive running a few years prior.
The Cape Wrath trail is not officially marked and there are no official path lines, allowing for some route variations.
Current trail record holder Pawel Cymbalista took just over three days to cover the 240-mile (386km) trail from Fort William to Cape Wrath in 2023.
He took to Instagram to write: ‘As I was preparing for my daily training session this morning, the news destroyed me. It stopped me cold.
‘David had been in touch with me about his unsupported FKT (Fastest Known Time) attempt. He was meant to start a couple of weeks ago but postponed because of Storm Dave.
‘I was meant to send him off on the day but work got in the way. I didn’t get to wish him good luck.
‘Today I honour David. His courage. His kindness. His willingness to take on something few would ever attempt. Run free, brother. Your energy stays on the trail.’
