Double tragedy on the waterfall walk
Couple’s bodies found in flooded river in Wales
A COUPLE who died during a waterfalls walk at a Welsh beauty spot have been described as ‘selfless and loving’ by their heartbroken families.
Rachael Patching, 33, and wife helen, 52, were visiting the Brecon Beacons national Park in Powys on holiday when they died at the picturesque ystradfellte falls.
Police said they were contacted shortly before midday last Wednesday by a member of the public who said two people were in the River Mellte, which was swollen due to heavy rain.
A rescue operation was launched, with mountain rescue teams, emergency services and a helicopter all looking for the two women.
one body was discovered the following day, but it was another three days before the second was recovered downstream at the Spring Valley Lakes campsite on Sunday.
It is unclear how the couple got into the water, but the route to the waterfalls, known as the Four Waterfalls Walk, is steep in parts and has been described by hikers as ‘slippery and treacherous’.
The immediate search for the pair was difficult due to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rain and high and fastflowing water. It was called off on Wednesday evening due to the weather, before resuming on Thursday morning.
The pair, from West Malling in Kent, regularly fostered stray and abandoned cats and their social media pages were full of fundraisers and appeals for animal rescue shelters, both locally and abroad.
In a statement issued through Dyfed Powys Police, their families said the couple’s ‘endless laughter will be forever remembered by all who had the honour to know them’.
It added: ‘We are devastated to have suffered such an immeasurable loss following the news of Rachael and helen’s passing at just 33 and 52.
‘They were such a devoted, selfless and loving couple having had an immensely positive impact on all those they met.
‘Their love for animals and dedication to caring for them so lovingly over the years made them a truly admirable credit to themselves and society. There are no words that can express enough how highly they were
‘Selfless and loving’
both thought of by family members, friends and colleagues.
‘We would like to thank all those who have provided such generous support and guidance, including the unwavering commitment of the [rescue services] for helping so selflessly.’
A spokesman for Spring Valley Lakes in Glynneath said on
Sunday: ‘We had a call because someone spotted a body in the river. The emergency services came flying down here and a female was recovered. A rescue team went across the lake and came out the other end.’
Police are still trying to determine how the couple came to be in the water.