Climber Maria Eftimova, 28, Dies After 60ft Fall on Tryfan Mountain in Snowdonia

Experienced climber and adventure enthusiast Maria Eftimova, 28, tragically died after falling 60ft while scrambling on Tryfan, one of Britain’s most dangerous peaks, an inquest heard on Tuesday, June 11, 2025.

Maria, originally from Bulgaria and living in St Helens, Merseyside, was part of a hiking group climbing the 3,000ft peak in Snowdonia on February 22 when the fatal accident occurred.

Friends Witnessed the Tragic Fall

The inquest at Caernarfon heard emotional statements from members of the hiking group who saw Maria slip and fall.

Neil Oakes, who was ahead of her, turned around and saw her lose footing: “I turned around and saw Maria tumbling through the air. I was shouting ‘No, no, no!’ but she had already hit the ledge below.”

Harry Jones, another hiker, said the group was moving from ledge to ledge when Maria attempted to pull herself up.

“All I saw was her flying over my head and down the mountainside,” he said, recalling how he froze before calling 999.

Despite rapid emergency response from a rescue helicopter and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, Maria died at the scene from multiple injuries.

A Life Full of Adventure

Maria was studying Civil Engineering at Salford University and had lived in the UK for ten years. She was well-known in the adventure community, with over 10,000 social media followers. Her passions included climbing, surfing, and snowboarding.

Her family and friends described her as someone with an “insatiable thirst for life”. A tribute video posted just 30 minutes before her death showed the group laughing and doing a “Mexican wave” at the peak.

Coroner Rules Death an Accident

Kate Robertson, Senior Coroner for North West Wales, ruled the death accidental, saying: “Maria was scrambling with others when she unintentionally and unexpectedly fell. Her heel slipped as she tried to reach for a ledge.”

She confirmed Maria fell a “considerable distance” down the north ridge of Tryfan — a notoriously steep area with cliffs and rough terrain.

Community in Mourning

A fundraising campaign was launched to support Maria’s family, highlighting her love for nature and her excitement for an upcoming snowboarding trip to Austria.

“She was a bright and ambitious woman whose energy touched everyone around her,” the organizers wrote.

Maria’s death comes just days after another woman, Dr. Charlotte Crook, 30, also died in Snowdonia, after falling from Glyder Fach on February 16.

Dangerous Climb

Tryfan claims an average of two lives each year and has been called one of the UK’s most challenging and deadly mountains.

Maria had climbed it before but this tragic trip proves how unpredictable and dangerous such climbs can be — even for experienced adventurers.