By Harry McLaggan

MOUNTAIN RESCUERS searching for a man reported to have fallen in the Cuillins on Skye on Thursday, yesterday found not one but two bodies.

As part of the search for the missing 58-year-old, searchers were scouring the Cuillins when they discovered a body at 9.40 am.

An RAF helicopter which was involved in the search spotted the body, which had obviously been at the scene for some considerable time.

Although no identification has yet been made it is believed the body could be that of English backpacker Dr Timothy Derrick (41), who went missing on the island over a month ago.

Dr Derrick had booked out of a hostel at Sligachan but the alarm was raised three days later, on August 17, when some of his possessions were found still in the hostel.

Despite widespread searches and appeals, no trace of him was found.

The body of the man found in the Cuillins was around nine miles from Sligachan.

Shortly after the first body was spotted from the air, members of Skye Mountain Rescue Team made another grim discovery.

The second body was discovered in the Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh area around 10.30 am.

Police named the dead man as John Vernon Sykes (58), from Huddersfield, west Yorkshire.

Mr Sykes was traversing a rocky path at Foxes Rake on Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh with his brother Barry (63).

After losing contact with his brother, Barry made his way down from the mountain range and made his way on foot to the Glenbrittle Youth Hostel.

After he raised the alarm, rescuers swung into action but the search was called off that night due to darkness and difficult weather conditions.

No sign of John Sykes was found but a new search was launched yesterday morning and the body of the industrial chemist was then discovered.