Rescue teams describe the incident as “extremely unfortunate” as climber loses his life after a fall.

A 23-year-old climber from Yorkshire tragically lost his life after falling 600ft from a ridge in Snowdonia’s Y Gribin, a popular peak in north Wales. The incident, which took place on Saturday at around 5pm, occurred when a handhold the climber was using to ascend gave way, sending him plummeting down the mountainside.

The climber was part of a group of three friends, and although they witnessed the fall, they were unable to immediately locate him in the dense cloud below. The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OVMRO) was dispatched, and despite challenging weather conditions, the rescuers found the body later that evening, shortly after 9pm. The body was airlifted with the help of a coastguard helicopter, but there were no signs of life when it was recovered.

Chris Lloyd, chairman of the OVMRO, spoke of the accident, calling it an “extremely unfortunate” event. He emphasised that the climber’s companions had done everything they could to assist and had acted appropriately under difficult circumstances. The incident occurred amidst cloudy conditions, ice patches, and frequent rockfalls, which hampered the rescue efforts. Lloyd mentioned that the climber’s group was well-prepared for their adventure, and the ridge itself, though not difficult, had loose rocks and hidden ice.

The team carried out the recovery the following morning, with clearer weather allowing them to bring the body down from the steep terrain. OVMRO volunteers are always on standby to assist in mountain incidents in Snowdonia, with the group depending on public donations to support their vital work.