Caravan owner watched through binoculars as a climber plunged to his death at Llandullas

Nov 4 2010 by Dan Beavan, North Wales Weekly News

A CARAVAN owner watched through binoculars as a climber plunged to his death.

Leslie Wolfenden told an inquest he became increasingly concerned as he saw Roy Hallam and his son Daniel scale a limestone cliff without any safety gear.

They were only a few feet from the top, at Llanddulas, when 56-year-old Roy appeared to lose his grip on a rock and fall backwards.

The experienced climber hit outcrops of rock as he fell 60ft.

He was certified dead at the scene, having suffered severe chest injuries.

Daniel said he and his father had set out from their home in Birkenhead on July 24 intending to go climbing in Llanberis but when it started raining they turned off the A55 at Llanddulas.

They noticed a rock face and although they had equipment in the car decided to climb free.

Daniel said he was not very happy about the idea and told his dad: “It looks a bit iffy”.

As they climbed higher his father started to dislodge some rocks, and they were only a few feet from the top when his feet slipped.

He fell backwards and hit the ground with a “sickening thud”.

The incident was watched by Mr Wolfenden from his caravan on the Tan yr Ogof site about 400 yards away.

Mr Wolfenden, from Ashton-under-Lyne, said he was used to seeing climbers on the cliff and although he noticed the Hallams were not using any equipment they were climbing the less steep of the two faces.

“I was anxious as I watched and was willing them in my own mind to get up,” he said.

He said he felt guilty for not having alerted the emergency services earlier as it might have prevented the accident, but North Wales central coroner John Hughes said he had no reason to blame himself.

Verdict: accidental death.