TRIBUTES have been paid to a former transport chief who plunged 200ft to his death during a mountaineering training exercise.

Peter Huntley, 55, died in the fall from a Lake District fell on Sunday.

He was preparing for a fundraising trek to the North Pole in April with a friend when he slipped and fell in snowy conditions.

The former managing director of Go North East bus company fell from Blea Water, near High Street summit.

The father-of-three was praised by his former employees at Go North East transport company for working “tirelessly” to transform the business.

A tribute released by Go North East said: “It’s with great sadness that we confirm the tragic death of former managing director Peter Huntley. “This has come as a great shock to all his former colleagues.

“Above all Peter was a lover of life and lived it to the full. He will be sadly missed by us all.”

Mr Huntley, from Gateshead, had stepped down from his role as managing director for the company at the end of December after six years.

He later moved to Primrose Grove in Preston, Lancashire.

A keen walker, cyclist and climber, he hoped to raise £10,000 for national transport charity Transaid with a trek from Russia to the Arctic circle due to take place in April.

He was walking with his friend and former colleague John Taylor, director of TAS transport specialist, when he fell at around 2.30pm.

Another colleague Chris Cheek said: “It was a tragic accident, and our only consolation is that he was doing something he loved on a beautiful day, full of plans and optimism for the future.”

On Go North East’s Facebook page, Mick Foo Parker wrote: “Tragic news. Peter made what GNE is today, with bright and colourful buses, we should now have a bus with his name blazed across the front. R.I.P.”

Phil Tonks of Bus Users UK wrote on Twitter: “Shocked and saddened to hear about the death of former Go North East MD Peter Huntley. One of the bus industry’s true forward thinkers.”

A spokesperson for the North West Air Ambulance said it was a “difficult rescue” and involved several members of Penrith Mountain Rescue. “Conditions underfoot were quite dangerous and it was difficult to access the spot where he had fallen to. The doctor had to jump from the helicopter as it went past to try to get to him.

“They worked on him with advanced medical care for quite some time but he was pronounced dead at 4pm.”

Before joining Go North East, Mr Huntley worked for TAS consultancy, which he set up in 1989.

He had a long association with the transport industry, having worked at Hartlepool Corporation Transport, then for local authorities in Scotland and at Lancashire County Council.

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