89-year-old man was found dead in Snowdonia after seven-month hunt

INQUEST HEARS CAUSE OF DEATH ‘UNASCERTAINED’ AFTER GRIM DISCOVERY

THE inquest into the death of a pensioner who had been missing for seven months before his body was found has been opened.

James Berger, 89, was reported missing on September 8.

A search party was launched by North Wales Police in an attempt to find Mr Berger (pictured right), from Betws yn Rhos, Abergele.

He was seen, by a friend, leaving Colwyn Bay train station on September 8 before later being seen at a pub in Beddgelert.

Numerous appeals were made by the police force, with police divers brought in to search the Aberglaslyn area of Snowdonia three weeks after his disappearance.

The formal opening of the inquest into his death held in Caernarfon heard how Mr Berger’s body was found by a member of the public on April 17 in scrubland between Pont Taleryni on the A5085 from Beddgelert to Penrhyndeudraeth.

The cause of death following a postmortem examination is “unascertained”.

Assistant Coroner for North West Wales Sarah Riley said: “On April 17 a member of the public contacted North Wales Police having sighted human remains within ... terrain and knee-high grass and bushes.

“She also saw various items scattered around the area including a mug, a mobile phone, a camouflage net and bone fragments.

“A postmortem was carried out by Dr Brian Rodgers, a Home Office pathologist, on April 20, 2022 with a cause of death given as unascertained.

“The investigation into James Berger’s death remains ongoing and whilst the inquest is now formally opened, it is adjourned pending further investigations.”

During the search North Wales Police said that Mr Berger was known to be “familiar with the area”.