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.”