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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Chiara Fiorillo

Man called girlfriend before he got 'lost in fog' and fell to death on Mount Snowdon

A man made a final phone call to his girlfriend before getting lost in "thick mist" and falling to his death on one of Britain's highest mountains, an inquest heard.

Ade Ajayi, 30, was found dead by fellow walkers after falling while making his way down Mount Snowdon.

The trainee NHS nurse had been on holiday with his girlfriend Eleanor Forde and two pet dogs in June this year after travelling 150 miles for the break.

He decided to tackle the 3,560ft peak alone in an early morning climb and phoned his girlfriend at noon to tell her he was on his way back down.

Because he had not arrived two hours later, Eleanor called mountain rescue teams who launched a search for him.

Ade had been on holiday with his girlfriend and two pet dogs when the tragedy occurred in June (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

She was tragically told at 4.30pm that Ade, who worked with the rehabilitation team at Montagu Hospital in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, had been found dead by two walkers.

In a statement, Eleanor described Ade as "a wonderful and caring" person who "loved life and lived it to the full".

She added: "He loved his patients and they adored him. He would always go out of his way to help them, nothing was too much trouble when it came to them.

"My heart is completely broken and I can't believe he is not around anymore. My world is shattered and even our little dogs are still looking for him.

"Ade will be missed more than I can ever express. His memory will always be treasured by me and by those who knew and loved him."

Rescue team coordinator Elfyn Harlech Jones, told Caernarfon Coroner's Court there was a "thick mist" on the mountain that day which would have "significantly affected visibility at the top".

Ade was described as a person with a 'heart of gold' (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Coroner Katie Sutherland said that despite medical evidence showing Ade suffered a heart defect, the medical cause of death had been given as "multiple injuries likely related to a fall".

She said: "It is more likely, based on the evidence, that Ade suffered a fall after he simply lost his way, bearing in mind weather conditions.

"It is more likely than not he has either slipped or tripped whilst descending having lost his way. I will record the cause of death as multiple injuries due to a fall."

Ms Sutherland reached a conclusion of accidental death.

She said: "He was clearly doing something that he loved he had the appropriate equipment and footwear - that has been given to me in evidence by a number of witnesses.

"It is likely that he has lost his way and poor weather conditions in such treacherous areas have sadly caused his death."

Addressing Eleanor, the coroner said: "I can't begin to imagine the fear and the worry you felt on that day when Ade didn't return and I am sure you continue to live with the grief and real tragic circumstances of how Ade came by his death."

In a statement, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Ade joined Team DBTH in 2019 and was a much-loved and respected member of the team within Rehab 1 at Montagu Hospital.

"As a Trainee Nursing Associate, he always put his patients first and typified all that is good about the NHS.

"We have no doubt that he would have gone on to have had a long and fruitful career at the Trust, making a difference to so many.

"Colleagues describe Ade as having a heart of gold and someone who was a pleasure to work with and who could light up a room.

"They say Ade always showed boundless compassion when dealing with individuals, and was a confidant and friend to so many.

"Put simply he will be so sorely missed by all those who knew him, but always remembered."

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