From Press & Journal
American actor learns about mountain rescue service in Scotland
FORMER Baywatch star David Hasselhoff hit the high spots in the Highlands at the weekend – not as a lifeguard but as a mountaineer.
The American TV actor and singer, who had lead roles as Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch and Michael Knight in Knight Rider, was in the Fort William area to film a new TV action series.
The six-part series will be broadcast on Living TV and chronicles his travels around the UK experiencing British culture and customs.
Accompanied by his daughter and her fiance, he stayed at Inverlochy Castle Hotel at Fort William.
Using the hotel as a base, the star spent time filming on the shores of Loch Ness and in Glen Nevis.
Having been heavily involved with bereaved families of New York firefighters killed in the 9/11 disaster, Mr Hasselhoff was keen to learn a little about the rescue services in Scotland.
On Ben Nevis, where so many of Scotland’s climbing accidents happen, mountain rescue seemed to be an obvious aspect to feature.
Local climbing guide and mountain search and rescue expert, Mick Tighe, of Nevis Guides based at Roy Bridge, was drafted in to oversee an abseiling and stretcher-lowering exercise on the Poll Dubh crags in Glen Nevis.
Mr Hasselhoff abseiled down a cliff face while members of the film crew “volunteered†to be mock casualties and were lowered down over the sheer rocks in a rescue stretcher.
Mr Tighe was helped by his wife Kathy, herself a former member of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team, and by personnel from the Ochils Mountain Rescue Team, including leader Kevin Mitchell, who were exercising in the area at the time.
The series, with the working title of “Project Hoffâ€, is due to be aired from September 28.