Father messaged wife from Snowdonia before tragic fall, inquest hears

A proud husband and father messaged his wife to let her know he had completed his first Snowdonia peak before tragically falling to his death on the way down, an inquest heard.

David Brookfield, 65, never made it home to his family after his mountain trek expedition to celebrate his retirement.

He was reported missing after his family heard no more from him during his hiking trip to Snowdonia, North Wales - but his body was not found for several months. 

An inquest heard he travelled almost 100 miles from his home in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, to take on the mountain Carneddau range. 

Mr Brookfield messaged his wife Lesley to tell her he had conquered his first mountain called Pen yr Ole Wen - the third highest peak in Wales. 

But the alarm was raised the following day after his family heard no more from him. 

The former housing trust manager was reported missing in January but his body was not found until May by a helicopter crew.

Mountain rescuers, a coastguard helicopter, drones and dogs had searched for Mr Brookfield, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, after he was reported missing.

On May 9, a coastguard helicopter crew in the Nant Ffrancon valley spotted the body, in a blue jacket.

Paul Terry, a police sergeant and Ogwen Valley mountain rescuer, said Pen yr Ole Wen presented with 'navigational challenges in poor visibility.'

He suggested Mr Brookfield had deviated from a normal descent route and entered a gully before falling.

North West Wales senior coroner Kate Robertson at Caernarfon described the death of experienced walker was a 'tragic accident.' 

Ms Robertson added given the time of year there may also have been some slippery conditions leading to his fall. 

'As a family we are utterly devastated as to what has happened,' Mrs Brookfield declared in a statement read at the inquest.

The coroner told the family: 'I can't begin to imagine the pain and anguish, perhaps even the grief, you felt for many months.' She added : 'He had many years still ahead of him clearly.'

Speaking at the time he was missing, his daughter-in-law Klare Brookfield said the family were 'praying for a miracle'.

She said: 'He is a much loved dad, grandfather and great grandfather. He is the heart of our family, we are all distraught.

'He been missing six weeks ago yesterday. It was his first proper week of his retirement after Christmas.

'He is looking forward to enjoying his retirement going on adventures in his campervan with his wife Lesley. He was an experienced walker and he ran a walking group in work, although he was alone at this time.'