Maria Eftimova, 28, a travel influencer and engineering student, fell to her death while climbing on the Tryfan mountain in Snowdonia, Wales.
The Context
Tryfan is one of the highest mountain peaks in the Eryri National Park in Wales, standing at 3,010 feet. It is one of the deadliest mountains in the United Kingdom, according to the outlet BBC Countryfile.
Eftimova’s death came six days after another woman, Dr. Charlotte Crook, died while climbing in the same area. Crook fell to her death while walking with a colleague.
Instagram/Maria Eftimova
What To Know
Eftimova was a structural civil engineer, originally from Bulgaria. She was climbing rocks with friends on February 22 when she fell to her death.
An inquest was held on Wednesday, when it was revealed that her heel slipped as she attempted to reach a ledge and lift herself up.
She was an experienced mountaineer who has recently completed an ice-climbing course in Norway. She frequently shared pictures and videos of her travels and adventures with her followers on Instagram and TikTok.
Eftimova’s friend, Victoria Critchley, shared a tribute to her friend as part of a Just Giving fundraiser organized to help support her family with funeral costs, and repatriating her body back to her home country of Bulgaria.
Critchley described her late friend as ambitious, bright and cherished. She wrote that her, “vibrant personality, energy and aura touched and uplifted all around her. She had an insatiable [thirst] for life and exploring our world’s beauty. Tragically, she was taken from her family far, far, far too soon.”
The coroner, Kate Roberston, said that despite the attendance of crews and paramedics at the scene, Eftimova died before she was taken to a hospital, according to the BBC. A postmortem found that Eftimova suffered head injuries, including a fractured skull.
What People Are Saying
Victoria Critchley, writing a tribute to Maria Eftimova shared on a Just Giving page: “Words cannot express the devastation her family and our community are experiencing…. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue responded to the incident and made every possible effort to save Maria. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for their tireless work and has decided that any surplus funds raised will be donated to support their vital service. We will be launching a separate initiative to further demonstrate our appreciation.”
What Happens Next
The inquest into Eftimova’s death was adjourned until at a later date.
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