Incredibly sad to report the news that Battle of Arnhem veteran, Sandy Cortmann passed away earlier this evening at his care home in Aberdeen. The 97-year-old has spent the last few days surrounded by close family and friends and will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.

In September last year, Sandy went viral on social media after doing a parachute jump in the Netherlands as part of the 75th Battle of Arnhem commemorations in a poignant and emotional tribute to his fallen comrades. He described the jump as “throughly terrifying but wonderful”.

Sandy pictured in the foreground of this picture was just 22 when he parachuted near Arnhem in September 1944, where he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was part of the biggest airborne assault in history. More than 1,500 British troops died and nearly 6,500 captured.

Not long after returning to Scotland from his big adventure, he received hundreds of fan mail letters from people in the Netherlands. Dutch people were so moved his his story, a campaign was launched to send well wishes and thank you messages to the Aberdonian.

I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of following Sandy over to the Netherlands to report on his first return to the country he was captured in 75 years before. He was a true gentleman and my favourite interviewee by a country mile. An inspiration to us all.

This is how I will remember Sandy Cortmann. A fighter to the very end. Tonight his close friend said Sandy was a proud man with an infectious smile that would light up the darkest of rooms. A paratrooper through and through.

RIP Sandy 1923-2020.

You can read more about Sandy’s parachute jump here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-49772050

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