Ogwen Valley
A LOOSE rock may have caused an experienced walker to plunge 300 feet to his death, an inquest heard.
Retired headteacher Llew ap Gwent, of Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, was scrambling in the Ogwen Valley on May 8 with fellow members of Clwb Mynydda Cymru.
He was nearing the top of Cneifion Arete on Glyder Fawr when he fell, the hearing at Dolgellau heard.
North west Wales coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones was told no one saw the 60-year-old fall, but mountain guide Andy Teesdale of Dinorwig described how he heard the sound of rock hitting rock.
He said that led him to think a rock hand or foot hold had got loose.
Mr Teesdale added: “The rock getting loose by either a hand or foot hold was the most likely cause of why he fell to his death. It has been a very cold winter in Snowdonia and this would loosen rocks in the area.”
Ogwen Valley Mountain rescue team member John Hulse supported Mr Teesdale’s theory.
Clwb Mynyddfa Cymru member Morfydd Ellen Thomas of Bethel near Caernarfon said Mr ap Gwent had not been scrambling with the rest of the group.
Although there were ropes available, Mr ap Gwent had decided to go on his own and look for an easier route up the ridge without ropes.
After realising he had fallen Ms Thomas went down to where he had dropped and found him
She said he was still alive and asked her, in Welsh: “What happened to me?”
She was asked by the coroner if he had given an indication as to why he fell She said he had not.
Mr ap Gwent was airlifted to hospital but died later.
Pathologist Dr Anthony Caslin said the cause of death was multiple injuries consistent with a fall from height.
Recording a verdict of accidental death the Coroner said he agreed the most likely theory was that Mr ap Gwent fell to his death as a result of a loose hand or foot hold.
A former head teacher of Ysgol y Parc, near Bala Mr ap Gwent took early retirement and worked as Llanuwchllyn Community Council clerk and a director of Antur Penllyn, which runs rural life centre Canolfan Cywain in Bala.
After his death tributes were paid to the man who always “went the extra mile” for his community.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Elfyn Llwyd, a close friend, said: “This is a tragedy for the family and the entire Penllyn community.
“Llew was a tireless worker in the community and whatever he did was done meticulously.
“We will miss his humour and hard work.”
Llanuwchllyn councillor Alan Jones Evans added: “It is often only after someone passes away that you realise how much you miss him.
“Llew spent long hours working for this community. He always went the extra mile.”
An experienced mountaineer with a Mountain Leadership qualification Mr ap Gwent had walked in Wales, Scotland, the Alps and the Himalayas.
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