£16,000 raised to take home body of hotel worker killed on Skye
Over £16,000 has been raised to help repatriate the body of the Kinloch Lodge hotel employee killed while hitchhiking on Skye.
Australian Maddy Rice, 21, died after being hit by a car while walking with her boyfriend.
Her family launched an appeal on YouCaring, a humanitarian crowdfunding site, when it emerged she had no travel insurance to fund her repatriation. The appeal has since had more than 500 donations and at the time of publication had raised AUD$31,250 (£16,000).
The family published an update on the appeal today: "The long journey home for our Maddy has started. We don't have any news yet on when she will be leaving Scotland and when we will be able to see her again.
"We hope that the community of the Isle of Skye and the lovely people at the Kinloch Lodge know how grateful we are for all their help and support. We would love to meet you all someday to thank you personally."
Many donations were by Rice's former colleagues and employers in both London and Skye; the Kinloch Lodge pledged more than £1,000 to the campaign.
Kinloch Lodge hotel employee knocked down and killed while hitchhiking on Skye >>