Climber died shielding wife from rock fall in ‘loving act’

A BRITISH climber died shielding his wife from falling rocks in a final act of love, an inquest heard.

Andrew Foster, 32, was killed when hundreds of tons of rock fell more than 650ft from the face of the El Capitan monolith in Yosemite National Park in the US, on Sept 27 last year.

Gloucestershire coroner’s court heard Mr Foster was seen running back to the rockfall to protect his wife, Lucy Foster, 28, who had tripped up and fallen to the ground. He then dived on top of her – saving her life.

The pair, who lived in Cardiff, were on a week-long climbing trip to the national park with another couple.

In a report from the National Park Service, which was read to the court, eyewitnesses described Mrs Foster telling them afterwards: “He saved me.”

A post-mortem examination in the US concluded Mr Foster died from cranio-cerebral injuries. After the accident Mrs Foster was airlifted to hospital, where her condition was stabilised.

Caroline Saunders, the assistant coroner, concluded Mr Foster died as a result of an accident, saying she had heard no evidence that he was not suitably prepared for the climb or that the authorities had any warnings to avoid the area. She said: “Andrew was aware that his wife Lucy was in danger and took the loving and selfless act of protecting her from the fall using his own body to shield her from the rocks.”