A father died after falling 100ft from a dangerous mountain ridge while training to climb Mount Everest, an inquest heard.
Dad-of-two Adrian McAnarney, 57, had travelled 200 miles to the Snowdonia mountain range with friends for a hike.
An inquest heard the group of seven hikers called Sunset Seekers caught a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, North Wales, for the mission.
But their trip turned to tragedy when Adrian fell 100ft and landed on a cliff ledge in front of horrified fellow hiker Fiona Mawhinney.
The fall took place in August on the famous Crib Goch to Snowdon route, featuring a narrow ridge with steep rocky slopes either side.
In a statement, fellow hiker Ms Mawhinney said she walked with Adrian on the Miner’s Path while their other five friends headed to Crib Goch.
She said Adrian told her: ‘I think we’re too low down. We need to go up’ before they walked together along a goat track.
Ms Mawhinney said she looked back to see Adrian reach for a large stone but he fell back onto a large slab.
Adrian McAnarney (pictured), a 57-year-old father of two from Katesbridge, County Down, died after falling around 100ft from a mountain path in Snowdonia while preparing to trek to Mount Everest base camp
A post-mortem found he died from multiple crush injuries. Assistant coroner Sarah Riley concluded his death was accidental. McAnarney is pictured
The fall took place on the famous Crib Goch to Snowdon route featuring a narrow ridge with steep rocky slopes either side
The inquest heard the dad, who was a joiner and part-time boat attendant, continued to fall 100ft down the mountain before suffering a head injury which was ‘incompatible with life’.
Ms Mawhinney said. ‘I screamed his name several times and shouted for someone to phone an ambulance.’
The inquest heard she tried to follow Adrian in a desperate bid to help her friend but was stopped by an off-duty police officer because it was too dangerous.
The Llanberis mountain rescue team rushed to the scene along with a rescue helicopter but Adrian was pronounced dead at the rescue base.
Wife Monica McAnarney said her husband had had a passion for hiking and was planning to climb to Mount Everest base camp this November.
Adrian’s hiking mission was set to take place in aid of the Northern Ireland Hospice charity.
The inquest in Caernarfon heard a post-mortem examination found he died from multiple crush injuries.
Assistant coroner Sarah Riley said Adrian, of Katesbridge, County Down, had fallen from height on Crib Goch resulting in fatal injuries.
She added: ‘My conclusion is therefore one of accident.’
After his death, friends had said he had been a regular hiker in the Mourne Mountains and had climbed Kilimanjaro for a hospice charity three years ago.
A death notice said: ‘Tragically as a result of an accident in Wales, Adrian, devoted husband of Monica, cherished father of Jack and Charlie, loving brother of Sean, Brian, Eamon, Cathal and Jacqueline McClorey and son of the late John and Margaret. May he Rest In Peace.
‘He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his heartbroken wife, sons, brothers, sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, parents-in-law Michael and Ann Duffy (Banbridge), nephews, nieces and the entire family circle.’
Tributes have now poured in to the ‘absolute gentleman’ following his death.
One person said: ‘There are no words. Such terrible news to hear. We had the pleasure of sharing a house in Italy with Adrian this year while on a hiking trip. He was a true gentleman with a pure passion for hiking. Rest in peace, Adrian.
‘May your memory live on, every path climbed and every summit reached. It was a pleasure to have known you. Condolences to all your family at this difficult time.’
Fellow Kilimanjaro hiker Emma Mullen said: ‘You were an incredible human being. We were blessed to know you and honoured to have walked some of life’s paths with you. You will be sadly missed. Sending all my thoughts and prayers to Monica, Jack and Charlie.’
