Banker fell to death from peak after losing way

A banker was seen by a friend falling from a mountain to his death while trying to hike by a different route down, an inquest heard.

Sam Caley, 49, a programme director with Deutsche Bank, had lost track of his friends on the descent of 3,010ft (918m) Tryfan in Eryri, or Snowdonia.

Shortly before he fell he shouted to them: “I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know if I can find my way back,” the inquest in Ruthin, Denbighshire, was told.

Mr Caley, of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, was pronounced dead at the scene of head injuries, and the coroner Kate Robertson recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

Ms Robertson, assistant coroner for north Wales east and central, read a statement from one of his friends, Tony Clarke, in which he described their descent.

Mr Clarke said: "We told him to retrace his steps but he was reluctant".

He and his friends had arrived in north Wales on 7 June, intending to stay two nights, and that afternoon set off up Tryfan.

One of the group turned back part way through their hike due to the physical toll, but Mr Caley and two friends, Mr Clarke and Adriaan Commander, reached the summit before beginning the journey back down.

While the two others headed down the path towards the Heather Terrace, Mr Caley followed a parallel path.

The two lost sight of him but heard him say: “I could do with some help here guys.”

Mr Clarke then described the moment he saw his friend falling and said he tried to see where he had landed.

“Adriaan and I were in shock," he said..

An off-duty paramedic and qualifed mountain guide went to help, and the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team was called out.

Following Mr Caley's death over £16,000 was raised in his memory towards a new boat for Marlow Sailing Club.