AN influencer and extreme sports enthusiast died after “tumbling through the air” in a 60ft plunge off a British mountain
Maria Eftimova, 28, went hiking up the 3,000ft peak before slipping on rocky ground and tumbling down the mountain to her death.
Maria suffered fatal head injuries and, despite the best efforts of medical staff, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
The influencer, with more than 10,000 followers, was tackling the notorious Tryfan mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, when she fell to her death.
An inquest into her death heard she was climbing the mountain’s notorious north ridge – a popular but dangerous scrambling route.
Maria was an experienced mountaineer and had completed an ice-climbing course in Norway shortly before the horror unfolded.
The inquest has heard how she posed for a “Mexican wave” with friends before she fell to her death.
Fellow climber Harry Jones said the group were going up the face one-by-one when he witnessed Maria’s tragic fall.
He added: “I could see on one particular ledge Maria stopped in order to get a handhold to pull herself up, I was six ft below her, to the left.
“She swung her right leg up to pull herself up. I asked ‘Got it well?’ and she said ‘I think so.”
He said moments later he witnessed Maria “flying over me” and down the mountainside.
The 60ft plummet left Maria with horrific injuries, including a fractured skull..
Coroner Kate Robertson returned a conclusion of accidental death and passed on her condolences to Maria’s family and friends.
Maria, of St Helens, originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, showcased her outdoor lifestyle online.
Following her tragic death a fundraiser was set up by friends to help cover repatriation costs.
Maria’s tragic death on February 22nd came less than a week after Dr Charlotte Crook, 30, also died while climbing in the same region.
An inquest heard Dr Crook plunged 30ft to her death while walking on Glyder Fach with a fellow medic.
Both women were attended to by Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation.
Speaking of Maria’s accident, the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team said: “A group was ascending the north-ridge when one of them fell 20 metres into steep terrain.
“Passers-by with climbing equipment abseiled down and made her safe, and a team member already nearby made his way down and started CPR.
“Colleagues from Welsh Ambulance Service stood by at base while the Coastguard helicopter dropped team members onto the mountain.
“Unfortunately, the casualty had not survived her injuries, and she was brought down to Oggie base.
“The thoughts of all involved are with the casualties families and friends, thank you to all the members of the public who tried to help.”
Neil Oakes, who was on a slightly different route up the mountain at the time Maria fell, told of his horror at witnessing the tragedy unfold.
He said: “I turned and saw Ms Eftimova tumbling through the air below me. She was already in freefall.
“I knew there was going to be an impact on the rocky outcrop below so I turned away for a split second. I was shouting ‘No, no, no, no.’
“When I turned back she was on the ledge below. I knew that it was serious.
“I said ‘She’s gone. She’s fallen.’ I was in shock.”
A BRAND-new tiny home village is set to open next month with 60 fully furnished rent free units up for grabs.
The new village will be opening near Tacoma’s South Hosmer Street in the coming weeks.
Dubbed Kingfisher Village by developers the project is expected to open on July 21.
The collection of tiny homes will be able to house around 70-75 people.
Each is 8 feet by 12 feet and comes fully equipped with beds and furnishings.
The village will include case-management offices, a common kitchen, community space, security fencing, plumbed showers, laundry facilities, 24/7 staff offices, storage and parking.
It will reportedly serve couples and individuals experiencing homelessness in the Tacoma area.
People will be referred to Kingfisher Village as part of the state’s Encampment Resolution program.
Kingfisher is a partnership between Pierce County and the Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI).
LIHI has operated other tiny-home villages with the same model before, most in the Seattle area.
The Kingfisher site will reportedly cost $2 million to construct and will be built with the help of volunteers and high schoolers.
The county is reported to have contributed more than $1.9 million to fund the property acquisition.
Some of the funding was made available to Pierce County through the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Right of Way Encampment Resolution Program.
LIHI have said the long term goal for the site is the development of affordable housing.
The organisation told the News Tribune: “Our long-term goal for the site is to build multifamily workforce housing that will help contribute to the positive growth that is happening in the community.”
Units in the village come ready to be lived in with everything someone might need.
Utilities are all hooked up and operating and furniture, including a bed, is installed and ready to use.
The site will feature everything a person might need and offers a long list of amenities.
People experiencing homelessness can be referred to the Kingfisher project.
They will then be housed in one of the units alongside other individuals who need housing.
Technically, a tiny home is any house measuring under 400 square feet.
Many tiny homes are built on trailers so they can be towed anywhere, and some are converted from old school buses or vans.
Each state has its own rules about tiny homes, but, generally, they are not subject to the same taxes as regular homes.
However, Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have made tiny homes illegal as permanent dwellings.
CULVER’S is launching three major upgrades to one of its regular menu items in just days.
The improvements will appear in over 1,000 of the fast food chain’s restaurants on June 16 in a move that will rival the likes of Popeyes and McDonald’s.
Culver’s revamped chicken sandwich menu will include the Crispy Chicken, Spicy Crispy Chicken and Grilled Chicken sandwiches.
In a sweeping overhaul to its existing menu, sandwiches will now include an improved chicken filet, crunchier pickle slices, mayo, lettuce, and will be squeezed into a brand new toasted brioche bun.
All the sandwiches will be filled with fresh and improved ingredients which the firm hopes will encourage new customers.
The updates are part of the company’s strategy to renew and improve its items on a regular basis.
Last year, it launched the smokey thick-cut bacon, whilst the Wisconsin chain added a Culver Signature sauce to the menu in 2023.
The release of the sandwiches come as Popeyes added a chicken wrap to its menu in June and McDonald’s revealed it will be bringing back its Chicken Strip Wrap next month.
The menu reveal comes as McDonald’s Snack Wrap has been blasted by fans claiming that they are “horrible” and “stringy”.
The fast food giant first trialled the item in late April, and participating restaurants launched them on May 5.
The strips are made with “juicy, 100% white meat, coated with crispy golden-brown breading and bursting with a bold, new black pepper flavor.”
But according to Loop Capital customers have been less than impressed with the strips.
One analyst said he “hoped the superior taste profile of the new chicken strips would overcome the product’s appearance.”
But fans have slammed the snack on Reddit.
One person said: “These are horrible and taste like oversized Dino nuggets.”
And another claimed that the strips “don’t hold a candle to the chicken selects of the past.”
Others called them “so stringy”, and said that McNuggets are “definitely better”.
It also comes as Burger King revealed it’s eyeing plans to roll out major changes to hundreds of locations.
Lovers of the burger joint can expect to see revamped stores and new menu offerings as the chain strives to elevate its experience.
Burger King is often regarded as a key brand under Restaurant Brands International’s portfolio thanks to its global presence and long standing history, founded in 1954.
At the Restaurant Brands International first quarter 2025 earnings call on Thursday morning, top bosses discussed plans moving forward for the iconic fast food chain, which fans on Facebook have called “better than McDonald’s.”
The company outlined its success with the Reclaim the Flame initiative launched in 2022, aimed at revitalizing Burger King’s brand and improving its market presence.
A key part of the strategy is remodels, upgrading hundreds of Burger King stores to have a more modern and inviting look.
Here are some of the current value meals offered by popular fast food joints.
Taco Bell’s $7 Luxe Cravings Box:
McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal:
Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag:
Burger King’s $5 Your Way Meal:
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