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Climber from Wales killed in Yosemite National Park rock fall | Climber from Wales killed in Yosemite National Park rock fall |
(35 minutes later) | |
A climber from Wales has been killed by a rock fall in Yosemite National Park in California. | |
Andrew Foster, 32, originally from the Cheltenham area, 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. |
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 and Mrs Foster, who married last year, flew out for the trip from Heathrow Airport on 11 September and had spent two weeks at the national park. | Mr and Mrs Foster, who married last year, 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. | |
On their return from America they planned to travel around the Alps for a year "skiing, climbing and being extreme" and had bought a van for the journey. | On their return from America they planned to travel around the Alps for a year "skiing, climbing and being extreme" and had bought a van for the journey. |
Mr Foster, who moved to south Wales when he was a student at Cardiff University, was a sales representative for outdoor clothing company Patagonia. | |
"He was a much-loved member of our team and a passionate climber, mountaineer and skier who loved being in the outdoors," a company spokesperson said. | |
"Our thoughts and condolences are with his wife Lucy and their families." | |
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 as a "miracle more (were) not hurt". | |
Mr Foster's death is the first fatality from a rock fall in the park in four years, when another climber was killed, according to the parks service. | |
Prior to that, the last fatality involving a climber in a similar accident was in 1999. | |
A second rock fall at the site on Thursday led to one injured person being airlifted to hospital. | |
The park remains open and visitor services are not affected. | The park remains open and visitor services are not affected. |
Park crews have re-routed roads after a series of at least eight rock falls over two days. |