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Royal Marines Reservist honoured for mountain rescue
22 September 2026
A Royal Marines Reservist has been given a Royal Humane Society award for his part in saving the lives of three climbers on Britain’s highest mountain.
Colour Sergeant Shane Mackenzie, from RMR Scotland, was with a group of Dutch marines who were all spending their day off ascending Ben Nevis following training exercise Highland Warrior in January this year.
It was on the descent that the group came across a mountaineer curled up in the snow, as a blizzard raged and temperatures dropped below zero.
“One of the Dutch lads approached him, expecting nothing more than a brief exchange of pleasantries,” said C/Sgt Mackenzie. “But as soon as we closed in, it became clear the man was in serious trouble.
“He was wearing trail running shoes with Yaktrax-style grips, shell tracksuit bottoms, woollen gloves, and a cotton hoodie pulled loosely over his head. A woollen hat sat askew beneath it. Solid blocks of ice clung to his eyebrows, hat, and gloves — evidence of long exposure to freezing conditions. One walking pole was bent; the other appeared broken or fully collapsed.”
When spoken to, he revealed that he had become separated from his two friends and had no idea where they were.
The group alerted Police Scotland and Mountain Rescue and tried to help the man down the mountain but he was stumbling and slipping on the ice. The team initiated a casualty evacuation, drawing on their mountain training package earlier that week.
I believe all Royal / Dutch Marines would have acted exactly as we did
They got man below the snow line when out of the fog appeared the two missing men, who were relieved to join the marines. C/Sgt Mackenzie cancelled the Mountain Rescue effort and safely brought his crew to the bottom road where officers met them.
As a result of his actions, C/Sgt Mackenzie was nominated for a bravery award from the Royal Humane Society, with the testimonial from his Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tom Noble RM stating: “Mackenzie’s leadership, clear thinking and resilience saved the lives of three walkers.”
The society presented the senior non-commissioned officer with a Vellum Testimonial – an award given to someone who has put themselves in considerable danger to save, or attempt to save, someone else.
“It is a privilege to receive this award, and I am sincerely grateful to the Royal Humane Society for the recognition,” said C/Sgt Mackenzie. “That said, I believe all Royal / Dutch Marines would have acted exactly as we did. The focus should remain on the successful rescue and the collective effort involved. We were simply applying the training, values, and mindset that are instilled in all of us throughout our service.”
The Royal Humane Society is one of the UK’s oldest charities, having been founded in 1774 in London. The society sees its work as helping to maintain one’s faith in humanity by promoting the value of human life and encourages selfless, courageous action in moments of danger.