Scottish scientist dies in Africa

Simon Thirgood, with daughters Pippa and Katie, and wife Karen

A Scottish scientist was killed while working in Africa when a building collapsed during a storm.

Professor Simon Thirgood, 46, was working on a biodiversitiy project in Ethiopia when he died.

He was Head of Ecology at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeenshire.

The scientist, who lived in Aboyne, leaves a wife and young daughters aged nine and seven. Arrangements are being made to bring his body home.

His wife Karen said the family had been "rocked and devastated" by the tragedy.

She said: "Simon was a loving son, husband, father and brother who will be missed by family and friends alike as he brought a straightforward charm, positive attitude and fun into all of our lives.

Our girls have lost a hands-on and loving father, but I am so grateful that he had already opened many doors in their lives and shaped their outlook on life Karen Thirgood

"He was a passionate scientist and the nature of his work took him across the globe."

She said the family, including daughters Pippa and Katie, had spent two years working in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania before returning to Scotland to take up his post at the Macaulay Institute.

She continued: " I am proud of Simon's reputation as a scientist and hope that he will leave a legacy through the people he mentored and inspired.

"That said, it is of course the unfailing support that he gave me both personally and professionally that I will miss.

"Our girls have lost a hands-on and loving father, but I am so grateful that he had already opened many doors in their lives and shaped their outlook on life."

Conservation projects

Simon Thirgood was appointed Head of Ecology at the institute in 2005 and specialised in conservation biology projects in Africa and Europe.

He was in Ethiopia setting up a project to build community capacity conserving and monitoring biodiversity, funded by the UK Darwin Initiative.

Head of communications at Macaulay, Dr Richard Birnie said: "It is with the deepest regret that we report the tragic death of Simon Thirgood while he was working in Ethiopia.

"The Board and all the staff send our deepest condolences to his wife Karen and their daughters and our thoughts are with them and the rest of Simon's family.

"Simon was a very highly respected ecologist, passionate about conservation issues at home and abroad, and will be sadly missed by all those who worked with him.

"At present all we know is that Simon died as a result of an exceptional weather-related event. We are assisting in arrangements for his body to be repatriated and will continue to provide the family with all the support necessary."