Hiker died in 100ft fall from knife-edge ridge on Wales' highest mountain

An experienced hiker died after losing his footing and falling 100ft from a knife-edge ridge on Wales' highest mountain.

Adrian McAnarney, 57, from County Down in Northern Ireland, had travelled with a group to Holyhead, to climb Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, and go sightseeing.

An inquest in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, on Wednesday heard the carpenter fell from Crib Goch, which reaches 3,028ft (923 metres), and died from multiple crush injuries on 2 August.

Crib Goch is a narrow ridge which offers a route up Yr Wyddfa.

Coroner Sarah Riley concluded his death was an accident.

McAnarney's wife Monica, who watched the hearing remotely, said in a statement he was passionate about mountains and hiking and had been preparing for an Everest base camp challenge.

The inquest heard that, when he and six others went up the mountain, the weather was sunny and good and they were wearing appropriate clothing.

The inquest heard McAnarney and another walker, Fiona Mawhinney, became separated from the rest of the group.

In a statement read to the court, Mawhinney recalled her friend said: "I think we're too low down... we can go up this way."

But, as he reached for a large stone, she said he fell back on to a stone slab and down the mountain.

In evidence read out by the coroner, North Wales Police officer PC Thomas Kelley said he was called to Nant Peris mountain rescue base, and McAnarney's body was flown down by helicopter.

The officer described seeing a head injury "incompatible with life".

He was told by other members of the walking group McAnarney and Mawhinney had taken a goat track before realising they had nowhere left to go.

It was then he lost his footing and fell, the inquest heard.

A post-mortem examination showed he died from multiple crush injuries.

It is a knife-edge ridge which should only be attempted by experienced hikers and mountaineers.

It is classed as a grade one scramble, which means it involves elements of rock climbing and four points of contact - both hands, both feet.

Terrain is extremely challenging with significant exposure, including steep pinnacles and steep drops on both sides, Eryri National Park says.