The inquest into the death of Maria Eftimova, a Bulgarian-born structural civil engineer residing in the UK, has reached its conclusion. Eftimova tragically fell while attempting to climb Mount Tryfan, a well-known mountain in Snowdonia, Wales, after her group decided to take a more challenging route, as reported by the BBC.
During the inquest, it was revealed that Eftimova was trying to navigate a ledge when she lost her grip. Fellow climber Harry Jones witnessed the moment she fell, recalling, “She started to pull herself up, but then I saw her flying over the top of my head down the mountainside.” Another climber, Neil Oakes, described his horror at watching Eftimova in freefall, stating that he instinctively looked away before she hit the rocky terrain below.
Rescue teams arrived, but Eftimova did not survive the fall and was found to have sustained severe head injuries. Despite being an experienced climber, having completed a glacier climbing course in Norway, she succumbed to her injuries before help could reach her.
The coroner concluded the case as an accidental death and expressed condolences to Eftimova’s family, describing her as a “bright and conscientious young woman.” This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with climbing, especially on challenging terrains.