A globetrotting teddy that was accidentally left behind on a mountain in Scotland will soon be reunited with his delighted owner after being rescued by a hiker.
Alastair Tyson feared Mini Tyson would be lost forever after leaving the bear behind on the summit of Buachaille Etive Beag near Glencoe.
Camera-shy Mr Tyson usually uses the tiny mascot as his stand-in for fun pictures.
The pair have climbed 50 Munros together, with the teddy even joining Mr Tyson on his honeymoon.
Mr Tyson told Sky News: “He’s been on my honeymoon, so he’s been to Italy.
“He’s been to Rome, Florence and Venice. He’s been to France and all around England. He was supposed to go to New York, but I actually forgot to take him on that trip.”
The 33-year-old, who is originally from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway but now lives in County Durham, won Mini Tyson at a school fete about 10 years ago when he was a teacher.
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At that point he didn’t realise how special the bear would become until leaving him behind in the Scottish Highlands on 9 July.
Mr Tyson noticed when he returned to the car park and would have scaled back up the mountain to retrieve him if he didn’t have a train to catch.
He said: “I was a bit gutted. You’ve just come off the mountain, you’re shattered physically, and so emotionally it kind of hit a bit harder because I was just so tired.
“I would have gone back up and got him if I had time.”
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Mr Tyson, a learning designer, issued a call for help on social media and was over the moon when he received a message to say the teddy was found safe and sound – albeit a bit wet after spending a week in the great outdoors.
He is now waiting for Mini Tyson to be posted back home.
A cash reward offered for the return of the bear will be donated to a local playgroup at the request of the rescuer.
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Mr Tyson said he was “overwhelmed” with the outpouring of support following his post.
He added: “Social media can be quite a dark and horrible place, so to see all this positivity come through is actually just quite nice.”
Mr Tyson will be heading to Ullapool in the next couple of weeks with his dad to tackle some Munros, and he hopes Mini Tyson will be home in time to join them.
He said: “If I can get him back by then, that would be quite good to get him out on the next adventure.”
