A MAN from Bodfari has died from head injuries after he fell down a 500 ft mountain gulley during an avalanche in Snowdonia.
Martin Richard Coleman, 36, fell on Y Garn amid snowy conditions on Saturday, December 17.
Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team said Mr Coleman, a solo walker, who was well equipped, had stopped to discuss the best way off the mountain with two female student walkers.
The trio were starting to head down from the mountain when they stood on overhanging snow which gave way and triggered an avalanche.
Mr Coleman and one of the students were swept away, leaving the other female student to raise the alarm.
“There was a fair amount of snow and low cloud,” said Mr Lloyd.
“We did not know how many people were buried in the avalanche at first but as information came through we knew we were only looking for one person.
“It is just a really tragic accident, especially at this time of year.”
Emergency crews were alerted at 2pm and the 22 Squadron helicopter from RAF Valley took teams of mountain rescuers up to the scene of the accident.
A passing mountain guide was able to rescue the fallen female student but Mr Coleman was pronounced dead at the scene.