A SHORT-SIGHTED medical student fell to his death from a 500ft cliff after getting lost on a hike.
John Aravinth, 20, was climbing Snowdonia alone after his family turned around due to bad weather, he got lost and called 999 twice before he fell from a ridge.
John was described as an “exceptionally bright” man and an experienced hillwalker but he was short-sighted and may have become disorientated, an inquest heard.
The student set off with his father and sister on May 26 to attempt Snowdonia, via the Llanberis path, known to be one of the easier routes up the 3,560ft mountain.
It was a overcast, windy and rainy so John’s dad and sister decided to turn back but John, from Horsham West Sussex, was confident he could reach the summit.
The hearing heard how John was walking on Wales‘ highest peak when he called his father to say he couldn’t see the path.
The Edinburgh University student was reportedly “distressed” when he called the emergency services for the second time and requested mountain rescue.
There was considerable wind noise in the background of the call.
Police then tried to call John back but there was no response.
John was said to have been “extremely short-sighted” and had difficulties with his vision due to his glasses misting up.
North West Wales senior coroner Kate Robertson said it was likely John reached the top of Snowdon, or Yr Wydda, but it was on the descent he became “disorientated”.
She added: “He’s likely taken a fall due to strong winds or loss of footing in treacherous weather conditions.”
Rescuers attempted to find John in 78mph winds on the summit and said the weather was “beyond atrocious” and they risked being blown off the ridge.
A team of 35 rescuers undertook an 18-hour mission in “serious and dangerous” weather to find John.
A body was eventually spotted by a coastguard rescue helicopter crew.
Elfyn Jones, of Llanberis mountain rescue team, said the tragic discovery was made at Cwm Glas, a valley north-east of secondary peak, Garnedd Ugain.
Mr Jones said: ‘The Llanberis Path is regarded as the easiest path up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
“However, in poor weather a few walkers still manage to lose the track.
“He’s either attempted to walk down a gully or could have slipped or been blown off the ridge.”
The coroner concluded a verdict of accidental death.
Ms Robertson said: “John was clearly exceptionally bright. The world will be a poorer place without him by the way he’s been described to me.
“I acknowledge the significant efforts made by the mountain rescue team and other emergency services in a very difficult and challenging situation.”
John’s death is one of eight tragedies this year on one of Britain’s most treacherous mountain ranges.
An unnamed walker died on the mountain range in August after collapsing while descending the Tryfan peak mountain.
Mother-of-two Hajra Zahid, 29, and younger sister Haleema Zahid, 25, died in a waterfall on the Watkin Path. The pair were pulled from the water after a “challenging” rescue attempt on a notorious path up Snowdon.
Social media influencer Maria Eftimova, 28, travelled from Greater Manchester to climb Tryfan but fell 65ft when she lost her grip. on February 22.
A body was found in the woods in October and emergency services were called.
Dr Charlotte Crook, 30, of Birmingham slipped to her death on Glyder Fach on February 16.
