By Bruce Robbins and Claire Warrender

A 70-YEAR-OLD Fife man was found to be dead on arrival at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after collapsing on the Angus hills yesterday.

The man, named by police as Ronald Hardie, a former architect, of Roome Bay Crescent, Crail, is understood to have taken ill in Glen Prosen near the 3107-foot Driesh hill at the head of the glen at around 1 pm.

Another walker in the man’s small party contacted the Scottish Ambulance Service who alerted police.

The police mountain rescue team was scrambled and a call went out to the Air Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which sent a helicopter from RAF Kinloss.

It is understood Mr Hardie, who was airlifted to Ninewells, may have died on the mountain.

Mr Hardie was a member of Crail Coastguard Rescue Team for a number of years and was described as a valued member by colleagues.

He later joined his wife Helen as a volunteer auxiliary in the operations room at Fife Ness, where she had worked for some time and for which she was awarded a medal by Buckingham Palace.

Mr and Mrs Hardie retired from the service in 1997 and enjoyed some relaxation before Mrs Hardie died of cancer.

A spokesman for Forth Coastguard said last night that the service was “deeply saddened” by the death of Mr Hardie.

“Ron had a long and valued service in Crail Coastguard Rescue Team before becoming an operations room auxiliary with his wife Helen,” he said.

“We would like to extend our sympathy to his family and friends.”