Drummer died instantly in fall on favourite peak
AMUSICIAN, who accidentally lost his footing while climbing his favourite mountain, died instantly after hitting his head in a 65-foot fall.
Iwan Pritchard Huws’ body was found on Tryfan, in Dyffryn Ogwen, on Monday, January 15, after a search by up to 50 volunteers was launched when he failed to return from a walk the previous day.
The 34-year-old, from Clogwyn Melyn, Dyffryn Nantlle, was an experienced mountaineer who had hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the Annapurna Trek in the Himalayas, an inquest at Caernarfon into his death heard.
Mr Huws worked as a civil engineer and was a drummer with Welsh rock band Yucatan.
Pathologist Dr Mark Lord said Mr Huws had died after suffering severe injuries, including a fracture to the base of the skull and cervical vertebrae. Dr Lord said: “Death would have been instantaneous on impact. There was no way of surviving these injuries.”
RAF Valley senior aircraftsman Steven Shields was the first person to see and reach Mr Huws. He said that they had been called out to search for Mr Huws on Sunday night and resumed their search on Monday morning.
He said: “There were really bad conditions the night before. I saw something matching the description of clothing worn by Mr Huws from a distance. He was in a scree slope 100 metres from the top of the gully. There was no sign of life.”
A tribute by Mr Huws’ father Islwyn, read by North West Wales deputy coroner Nicola Jones, said: “He knew Tryfan well. It was his favourite mountain. He had been looking forward to coming home and watching the TV in front of the fire.”
Mrs Jones said Mr Huws was an experienced mountaineer, and properly kitted out, who had done a mountain leader’s course.
She said: “He was fit and well. The most likely explanation is that he had a simple slip in greasy conditions underfoot and possibly hit his head first.”
Mrs Jones said: “He was one of theirs – a mountaineer, a climber. It’s a testament to him that 50 people came out to help him and carry him off the mountain.”
In her conclusion, Mrs Jones said Mr Huws had died due to an accident.
“He could not have done anything more to be safe on that mountain that day. It was more likely than not a simple slip.”
Previously, Mr Huws’ partner Elin Gwyn said: “Iwan was an incredible person, a musician and an adventurer who had travelled the world. He was always looking for the next adventure. It’s a heavy blow to lose him on his favourite mountain in Snowdonia, doing what he loved.”
She added: “Iwan greatly admired the mountain rescue volunteers and had hoped to join them once he’d completed his mountain leader training. Every single one of them are heroes.”