A 23-YEAR-old walker who was climbing a mountain ridge in Eryri died when a large piece of rock came away.

Jack Carne, of Bude Court, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, had been walking in Eryri (Snowdonia) on February 4 with his friends Mathew Belcher and Brendan Smith.

They were walking near Llyn Ogwen and were making their way to the summit of Glyder Fawr peak when Jack died after an "almost vertical" fall. 

Jack, who worked as a builder / bricklayer, had started walking during the pandemic. He and his friends had become confident walkers and made sure they had the "best equipment".  

An inquest in Ruthin heard on Thursday, June 22, that Jack was a "very fit young man" who would often go walking with friends. 

Jack and Mathew had been friends since he was six-years-old. 

A statement by Mathew, read out by John Gittins, Senior coroner for North Wales East and central, said: "About two years ago we started going for long walks - it was the only thing we were allowed to do. 

On the day of the tragic incident, Mathew revealed the three friends had stopped at Cheshire Oaks and Jack had bought sunglasses. 

"Jack could never go to the shops and not buy anything," he joked. 

Mathew had weighed his rucksack prior to the walk and commented it weight about 15kg. Jack and Brendan's were said to weigh "roughly the same". 

The friends all had several layers of clothing with them. They were well equipped for the walk.  

Jack fell when the young men were making their way up towards the summit of Glyder Fawr, at about 5pm. Mathew was some way above Jack and Brendan was some distance below. 

"A huge rock [Jack reached for] just came away and pulled him backwards," Mathew said. 

The inquest heard that Jack had somersaulted "over and over".

Mathew and Brendan said they could see Jack's rucksack below them, but could not see their friend.

They phoned 999 and asked for mountain rescue. It took about four hours for the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team to get to the men.

Mathew said: "There was a constant trickle of water coming towards us. We couldn't move incase more rocks fell." 

A statement from Brendan, also read out during the inquest, said: "I first met Jack in Year Seven. We have been best mates since. 

"We have been walking since lockdown, every other week."

Brendan said that he, Jack and Mathew were competent walkers. They had professional gear and planned walking with the weather in mind.

Speaking about the climb on February 4, Brendan recalled the rock "coming loose" and "knocking Jack backwards". 

"I was at the side of him and couldn't stop him from falling," he said.

"It all happened so quickly". 

Brendan said that he and Mathew "sat on a ledge" so the rescue team could locate them. 

He described that time as "daunting and frightening". 

A statement from Karl Lester, from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team, said that members had been alerted at 5.57pm to a Gribin Ridge fall. 

He said: "We were informed the casualty had been walking with friend. 

"It is believed that Jack had taken hold of a rock he thought was solid."

When Jack was discovered - an inspection revealed there was "no response". 

He had a "large head wound that had bled heavily."

Due to the poor weather conditions, the recovery of his 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 concluded an accidental death. 

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He said: "He took hold of a rock he believed to be secure but it was not."

Mr Gittins added that it was clear to him, from the statements, that hill walking was something that Jack "did and loved".

He expressed his condolences to Jack's family.

"The loss of this man is incredibly sad at this young age," he said.

He added: "There is no doubt you will miss him hugely."

The hearing heard that a fundraiser had been carried out by Jack's friends to thank the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team for all their efforts.