A YOUNG man died from massive crush injuries after falling hundreds of feet down a mountainside in Snowdonia.

The inquest into the death of Jack Carne, of Bude Court, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was opened and adjourned in Ruthin today.

The inquest heard that the 23-year-old builder had been walking in Snowdonia on February 4 with his friends Mathew Belcher and Brendan Smith.

They were walking near Llyn Ogwen and were making their way up to the 3,200ft Glyder Fawr peak.

A rock Jack was holding supporting himself on gave way, causing him to fall.

Senior Coroner for North Wales (East and Central) John Gittins said: "He reached for a rock that he thought was solid. Unfortunately, it wasn't and it gave way, causing him to fall."

His friends said they could see Jack's red rucksack 50m below them, but could not see their friend.

A subsequent search by Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OVMRO) found his body a further 100m below.

Due to the poor weather conditions, the recovery of the body had to be put off until the following day.

Pathologist Dr Mohammed Aslan gave a cause of death as multiple crush injuries.

Mr Gittins adjourned the inquest to be resumed at a date later this year.