Published date: 24 October 2016 |
Published by: James WildeRead more articles by James Wilde Email reporter
An inquest ruled a conclusion of accidental death after an inexpereinced mountain climber fell to his death off Snowdon.
Kenneth Hands, 35, a welder, of Aston Road, Tividale, Oldbury, in the West Midlands, along with three others abandoned plans to ascend Crib Goch to the summit and turned back, due to snow being forecast last April.
John Grisdale of Llanberis mountain rescue team – Britain’s busiest, said: "Crib Goch is probably the most arduous ridge walk in England and Wales and requires some respect. The narrow ridge has been the scene of numerous tragedies and rescues."
Stuart Bailey, a friend and colleague of Mr Hands, said the four-strong party had “mixed results” for the weather forecast and when they arrived in Snowdonia the sun was shining and they could see the top of Crib Goch.
Mr Bailey said: "We didn’t climb the worst parts of the ridge, but the weather had deteriorated and it was snowing."
When the snow began to stick the group turned around, Mr Bailey ahead of Mr Hands, then heard what he thought was a bag dropping.
Mr Bailey said: “When I turned around he was falling. He was unconscious and falling like a rag doll.”
Cornoer Nicola Jones said: "It was rocky terrain. It seems Mr Hands banged his head very quickly because he was unconscious almost within seconds.”
Pathologist Dr Mark Lord said there was major head injury.
"Mr Hands’s body had been winched aboard a coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon."
"Mr Hands’s body had been winched aboard a coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon."
Mr Grisdale, whose team were called out, told the inquest :”It seemed a very sad state of affairs. The weather turned very quickly.”
The coroner added that the walkers “were probably in more danger than they thought.”
http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/168267/mountain-walker-falls-to-death-off-snowdon-due-to-poor-weather-conditions-inquest-rules.aspx
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