A 36-year-old father of three has died after falling from a mountain in Wales, authorities confirmed.
An inquest opened on Wednesday, Aug. 27, into the death of Thomas Alan Smith of Bolton, England, according to reports from the BBC, NorthWalesLive, and Manchester Evening News.
The North West Wales Coroner’s Office said Smith had traveled to North Wales on the morning of Aug. 16 to climb Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon.
At around 11:30 a.m. local time, emergency services received reports of a man falling from the Crib Goch ridge. Search and rescue crews responded, but Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Mr. Smith was located by search and rescue and a medic on board the search and rescue helicopter confirmed, sadly, Mr. Smith had passed away at the scene,” the coroner’s office stated, according to NorthWalesLive.
The provisional cause of death was listed as multiple injuries from the fall.
Yr Wyddfa, at 3,560 feet, is the highest mountain in Wales. The Eryri National Park Authority describes it as a challenging climb where conditions, personal fitness, mountaineering skills, and preparation can all impact safety.
Smith’s partner, Shelly Price, who is also the mother of their three children, has launched a fundraiser in his memory to support the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.
“On the 16th August, my partner and our children’s father Tom was walking in one of his most loved places, Snowdonia National Park, when he unfortunately lost his life,” Price wrote. “Among many other brave individuals who were there to help Tom, the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were instrumental in making sure that he was cared for and rescued off the Mountain so that he could be brought home to his family.”
She added: “Please help us to raise as much money as we possibly can for this amazing team of people.”
In a Facebook post on Aug. 21, Price paid tribute to Smith, calling him “an incredible and loving partner.”
“Tom lived life to the full and was always looking for the next great adventure or goal to work towards, and he passed away in the most beautiful of places doing what he loved,” she wrote.
