This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41436218
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 10 | Version 11 |
---|---|
Climber from Wales killed in Yosemite park rock fall | Climber from Wales killed in Yosemite park rock fall |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A climber from Wales has been killed by a rock fall in Yosemite National Park in California. | A climber from Wales has been killed by a rock fall in Yosemite National Park in California. |
Andrew Foster, 32, originally from Cheltenham, was trapped while his wife, Lucy, 28, was seriously hurt when rocks fell from El Capitan. | Andrew Foster, 32, originally from Cheltenham, was trapped while his wife, Lucy, 28, was seriously hurt when rocks fell from El Capitan. |
Park ranger Scott Gediman said it was a tragic situation of "wrong place, wrong time" for the Cardiff couple. | Park ranger Scott Gediman said it was a tragic situation of "wrong place, wrong time" for the Cardiff couple. |
Mrs Foster remains in a "critical condition" after being airlifted from the collapse, park officials said. | Mrs Foster remains in a "critical condition" after being airlifted from the collapse, park officials said. |
Scott Gediman, of Yosemite National Park, said Mrs Foster was being treated for life threatening injuries in an area hospital and had been told of her husband's death. | |
The El Capitan rock formation is the world's largest granite monolith and one of the best-known landmarks in Yosemite. | The El Capitan rock formation is the world's largest granite monolith and one of the best-known landmarks in Yosemite. |
The pair, found with climbing equipment, are believed to have been scouting out the ascent from a trail when a "sheet" of granite plummeted from a height of 200m (656ft). | The pair, found with climbing equipment, are believed to have been scouting out the ascent from a trail when a "sheet" of granite plummeted from a height of 200m (656ft). |
It happened shortly before 14:00 local time (21:00 BST) on Wednesday. | It happened shortly before 14:00 local time (21:00 BST) on Wednesday. |
"With all the craziness I don't exactly know where they were going but chances are they were going up," said Mr Gediman. | "With all the craziness I don't exactly know where they were going but chances are they were going up," said Mr Gediman. |
"From what I understand they were buried under rock... they were crushed by falling rocks." | "From what I understand they were buried under rock... they were crushed by falling rocks." |
Mr Foster proposed to his wife in the Alps in 2015 and the couple married last year. | Mr Foster proposed to his wife in the Alps in 2015 and the couple married last year. |
They flew out for the trip from Heathrow Airport on 11 September and had spent two weeks at the national park. | They flew out for the trip from Heathrow Airport on 11 September and had spent two weeks at the national park. |
They posted photos and films on their Facebook pages showing their preparations and training ahead of the trip to Yosemite. | They posted photos and films on their Facebook pages showing their preparations and training ahead of the trip to Yosemite. |
Mr Foster went to Cleeve School in Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire, before going to Cardiff University in 2003 to study engineering. | Mr Foster went to Cleeve School in Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire, before going to Cardiff University in 2003 to study engineering. |
In 2006 he began working for the Cardiff-based outdoor activity shop Up and Under, before joining the international company Patagonia. | In 2006 he began working for the Cardiff-based outdoor activity shop Up and Under, before joining the international company Patagonia. |
Up and Under said: "His passion for the outdoors, and mountains in particular, was enormous and infectious." | Up and Under said: "His passion for the outdoors, and mountains in particular, was enormous and infectious." |
A Patagonia spokesman said: "He was a much-loved member of our team and a passionate climber, mountaineer and skier who loved being in the outdoors. | A Patagonia spokesman said: "He was a much-loved member of our team and a passionate climber, mountaineer and skier who loved being in the outdoors. |
"Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Lucy and their families." | "Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Lucy and their families." |
Paying tribute on Facebook, Mr Foster's friend Jess Spate said: "Everyone who climbed with him will remember his good humour and his unrivalled sense of adventure." | Paying tribute on Facebook, Mr Foster's friend Jess Spate said: "Everyone who climbed with him will remember his good humour and his unrivalled sense of adventure." |
Mrs Foster is originally from Staffordshire and went to school in Market Drayton in nearby Shropshire. | Mrs Foster is originally from Staffordshire and went to school in Market Drayton in nearby Shropshire. |
She studied ecology at Cardiff University from 2008 and works for the international engineering company AECOM. | She studied ecology at Cardiff University from 2008 and works for the international engineering company AECOM. |
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We're providing support and assistance to both families following this tragic event and remain in contact with local authorities." | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We're providing support and assistance to both families following this tragic event and remain in contact with local authorities." |
One witness, Mike Kane, tweeted that the collapse was "very loud", adding it was a "miracle more [were] not hurt". | One witness, Mike Kane, tweeted that the collapse was "very loud", adding it was a "miracle more [were] not hurt". |
Mr Foster's death is the first fatality from a rock fall in the park in four years, according to the parks service. | Mr Foster's death is the first fatality from a rock fall in the park in four years, according to the parks service. |
Another rock fall at the site on Thursday led to one injured person being airlifted to hospital. | Another rock fall at the site on Thursday led to one injured person being airlifted to hospital. |
Rachael Evans' husband was slightly hurt while she and her sister Ruth Merrell had a lucky escape following the second larger rock fall. | |
Ms Evans told BBC Radio 4 the rock fall had "sounded like thunder". | |
Art Cormier, a regular climber who witnessed Thursday's rock fall, said Yosemite locals knew of the "regular risk" of rock falls in the popular spot. | |
James Cook at the scene in Yosemite National Park, California | |
The sheer, imposing face of El Capitan towers above a valley of pine trees, granite glowing in the pale morning sun. | |
An occasional crack ricochets across the landscape, a reminder of the thunder and dust which erupted two days in a row with devastating effect. | |
This has been a tough time here in Yosemite but park rangers say rock falls are not actually that unusual: 80 are recorded every year and many more go unreported. | |
Rarely do they have such devastating effect though — but while the mood of adventurers is sombre it is also resolute. | |
El Capitan draws people, it lures them in, because it is untamed, because of the risks. | |
Already climbers are setting out again. This tragedy will not stop them from gambling in the wilderness. |