Top British climber killed by rock accidentally dislodged by girlfriend

Updated
Top British climber killed by rock accidentally dislodged by girlfriend
Top British climber killed by rock accidentally dislodged by girlfriend

Getty


One of Britain's top climbers was accidentally killed when his girlfriend dislodged rocks above him, according to an inquest this week.

Jonathan Woods, 36, had climbed a 150ft sheer rock face in Bosherston, Pembroke, West Wales, with girlfriend Victoria Ashton and two other climbers.

Miss Ashton told the Daily Mail: 'I lightly pushed away from the cliff face while abseiling down behind him and the whole of the wall crumbled.'

Mr Woods subsequently fell 70ft after being hit by the debris, and was prevented from falling in the water by his abseil.

Victoria and their climbing companions managed to get him to the top of the cliff from where he was airlifted to hospital, but he died soon after from 15 separate injuries.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded, and a spokesman for UK Climbing told said that he was a 'universally loved character' and that his death had 'devastated the climbing community'.

Advertisement