A FUNDRAISER has been launched to pay for the funeral of a much-loved dad, who died suddenly while hiking in Scotland.

Jarek Ringart, of Hensingham, Whitehaven, tragically passed away on Friday during a hike at the Three Sisters of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands.

The 43-year-old, who worked as head engineer at Shortridge Ltd in Workington, was an experienced climber, who loved the outdoors.

Joanna Connolly, of Moresby Parks, has launched a fundraising page to help his devastated family pay for his funeral.

Mr Ringart had left home early on Friday morning to join friends for the hike in Glencoe.

Ms Connolly was with his wife, Beata, when she received a call to say he had gone missing and the mountain rescue team were searching for him. She was later informed that his body had been found.

Ms Connolly said: “We are all in disbelief. He was a great outdoors man. He knew what he was doing and had all the proper equipment with him.

“He was always smiling. He was such a bright personality. He couldn’t sit still. He loved to be out and to walk and reach the top of the hill. He felt like the king of the world.

“He was always very helpful to his friends and family. He was very involved in the community and the outdoor community, as well.”

Only a few weeks ago Mr Ringart had been hiking in the Yorkshire Dales in support of the Wielka Orkiersta Swiatecznej Pomocy - the biggest Polish charity event.

Ms Connolly said Mr Ringart had a special bond with his teenage daughter, Anastazja. He was well-known in the ‘tight-knit’ Polish community in west Cumbria.

Ms Connolly added: “I’m doing this fundraiser because he touched so many people. There’s this great big community of hikers and the Polish community here and in Yorkshire.

“At the moment, his wife is trying to make sense of everything that has happened and deal with it in her own way.

“I thought a bit of financial support will give her the space to grieve and not have to worry. Nobody actually thinks about the costs of a funeral.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.45pm on Friday, 10 February, we received a report of a group of walkers in difficulty in the Three Sisters of Glencoe area near Ballahulisch.

“Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, assisted by Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter, attended and all but one of the group were traced safe and well.

“The body of a 43-year-old man was recovered near the summit of Stob Corie nan Lochan.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

To donate to the fundraiser, go to: www.gofundme.com/f/jaroslaw-ringart