Influencer & extreme sport enthusiast, 28, died after ‘tumbling through the air' as she fell 60ft off Brit mountain
AN influencer and extreme sports enthusiast died after "tumbling through the air" in a 60ft plunge off a British mountain
4
Maria amassed 10,000 followers, showcasing her outdoor lifestyle online
Credit: WNS
4
She was a keen mountaineer
Credit: WNS
Maria suffered fatal head injuries and, despite the best efforts of medical staff, was tragically pronounced
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
Maria was an experienced mountaineer and had completed an ice-climbing course in Norway shortly before the horror unfolded.
Read more in News
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
"She swung her right leg up to pull herself up. I asked 'Got it well?' and she said 'I think so."
Most read in The Sun
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
Terrifying moment Scotland's top ranked skier plunges down mountain & suffers horror injuries
Following her tragic death a
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.
4
An inquest heard Maria posed with pals for a "Mexican wave" before tumbling to her death
Credit: WNS
4
Despite the best efforts of medics Maria tragically died at the scene
Credit: WNS
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
"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
"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
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.'
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The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
My trip inside ‘world Voodoo capital' that's become dark holiday hotspot for Brits who flock to watch grisly sacrifices
A MASKED goblin figure chases two unsuspecting tourists along the busy streets, shrouded in a long multicoloured cloak. A few feet away, a priest carries a goat, preparing to sacrifice its blood to 15 A Zangbeto 'goblin' guardian' chases tourists in the world's 'Voodoo capital' Credit: Kennedy News and Media 15 An altar appears to be covered in the blood of a sacrificed animal Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Voodoo dolls are used to cast love spells Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Brit tourist Keiran Brown poses with a snake around his neck after his visit to the Temple of Pythons Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Welcome to the Voodoo capital of the world: Ouidah, in Benin, West Africa. Here the 'goblin' guardians, known as the Zangbeto, roam the streets wielding wooden swords - ready to ward off evil in both the human and spirit world. Visitors flock to the tiny city, which has a population of 162,000, to Despite its lack of attention in most mainstream holiday brochures, 337,000 tourists are reported to have visited Benin in 2019 and the numbers are believed to be growing. These so-called ' Benin, for its part, is happy to welcome intrigued visitors, with priests charging for their guidance and private rituals, and public festivals and Voodoo events charging admission fees. Kieran, 30, from Sidcup, Kent, visited the country during his tour along Africa's coastline and recalls his nerve-racking encounters at local landmarks including the Temple of Pythons. Inside a sealed room at a religious sanctuary, locals worship snakes instead of fearing them, and Kieran encountered dozens of the creatures slithering around. Snakes are said to represent the Voodoo god Da, who is believed to bring fertility and life to its worshippers. The priest even put one around Kieran's neck but insisted the potentially deadly Inside the Voodoo capital of the world where masked 'goblins' chase tourists and dogs' heads are displayed on spikes Kieran tells The Sun: "There was a thick door, the guy opened it, and there were around 60 to 70 pythons. "He put them around our neck and they seemed pretty chilled. "I didn't feel any energy and I don't believe in that but the people in the town are heavy believers. "That's the most popular religion in that side of the world, there is more Voodoo than Christianity." 'Land of the dead' It's thought 60million people around the world practice Voodoo, which is believed to have originated in Ouidah and where around 60 per cent are said to be followers. Voodoo - known traditionally as Vodoun, or Vodún - was officially declared a religion in Benin in 1996, and the annual festival, on January 10, attracts worshippers from all over the globe. Followers believe spirits control both the human world and the 'land of the dead', with different deities relied on to protect everything from villages to trees and rivers. They not only worship them from small shrines in their homes but they also attend public and private rituals led by community priests, who can be male or female. Voodoo dolls are sold at markets and sellers even claim the infamous figurines are able to make people fall in love with you. Snakes are worshipped as gods and animal sacrifice - including that of dogs - is commonplace and is often part of Voodoo initiation ceremonies. Dark arts During his visit, Kieran also recalls his encounter with one of the striking Zangbeto. These oddly dressed, masked figures act as the unofficial police on the streets of Ouidah, and are believed to keep residents and the religion's witches and spirits in line. Their name itself comes from 'zan', meaning night, and 'gbeto' that refers to person or people - so translates to 'people of the night', although they now appear in daylight hours as well. Kieran said: "When we were there we were walking around and there was a man dressed up as a Zangbeto and people were trying to get close to him and he chased people. 15 Voodoo dolls on sale in the city of Ouidah Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Masks and preserved animal parts are sold on the street Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 The Voudoum festival takes place every January "We were walking through a street and he saw us. Because we were the only white people we stood out. "It was a man dressed up like a goblin, he had a thick mask on. "I can't explain it but he was dressed like a monster, people were running away when it came close. "People were trying to annoy it by running towards it and eventually it would snap and start chasing you, it seemed to be like a game, everyone was chanting." Temple of Pythons Ouidah is home to the religion's Mecca, The Sacred Forest, where trees are considered holy and capable of granting wishes. Due to the rituals of spells and sacrifices, parallels have been drawn to witchcraft, which was greatly feared in 13th to 15th century Britain and led to the execution of those accused of practising it. However, Voodoo is now recognised as a protected religious belief in Britain under the Equality Act 2010. And expert Viktor explains that Voodoo remains an everyday feature throughout Benin - visible on the streets and with most people's homes featuring aspects of the religion. 15 A statue representing past kings in the town of Ouidah Credit: AFP 15 Snakes are worshipped in the Temple of Pythons Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 A Voodoo priest rides a cow before the animal is sacrificed Credit: AFP Viktor, who is also a Voodoo artefact collector and runs The Viktor Wynd Museum in Hackney, East London, said: "Wherever you go in Benin, everyone has a Voodoo altar and everyone goes to the Voodoo priests. "Each person has one main Voodoo spirit that they serve. "People dressed as Zangbeto do these dances to regulate the spirit world and the world of the living. They're intermediaries with the other world. "There's always something happening so a few weeks before we go we'll WhatsApp the priests and get all sorts of interesting invitations. "There's Voodoo in the Caribbean and it's very underground but in Benin it takes centre stage. That's why people find it so interesting. "It's fought back against the dominance of Muslims and Christians, who have marginalised the religion in other parts of the world." Dark side of religion While tourists in Benin are offered goat meat and trinkets with animal heads, over the years Voodoo sacrifices have been linked to much darker occurrences across the world. Notoriously, in 2001, a young African boy's torso was found in the River Thames in London. His head, arms and legs had been removed. Police investigators at the time believed that the killing was part of a Voodoo ritual. It's believed the body part may have been in the water for up to ten days and tests showed he lived in West Africa shortly before his death. Police believe he was trafficked to the UK, specifically for the purpose of a sacrifice. One factor that linked the torso to Voodoo was it had been carefully dressed in bright orange shorts before being dumped. Police eventually discovered that the colour was seen as powerful and used in specific sacrificial spells by those who practised Voodoo. However, due to the state of the body when it was found and cops facing a wall of silence during their investigation, the mystery remains unsolved. While Benin is credited as being the origin of Voodoo, it has spread to neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, Togo and even the Caribbean. In Togo, Kieran visited the world's biggest Voodoo market, where he found skulls of various animals - including dogs. The traveller spoke to the local Witch Doctor, who said each skull has different properties and are often prescribed to cure illnesses. Kieran said: "That region of the world in particular, I went to the world's biggest Voodoo market in Toga, where you can buy every type of animal skull. "It was a bit creepy, we were walking and there was every skull you can buy. "We spoke to the Witch Doctor, he explained it's normal in this culture. When I posted a video people were horrified but they could be horrified with some of the things in Western culture. "There were Voodoo dolls and spells, he said it is possible to make another person fall in love with you, but I didn't believe it." 15 A Voodoo shrine in Benin Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 Another Zangbeto in the streets of the city Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 15 The market sells macabre charms, skulls and animal skins Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Goat slaughter Every year on January 10 the Vodoun (Voodoo) Festival is celebrated across Benin and especially in the city of Ouidah, where practitioners gather to honour their spirits with sacrifices, dancing and singing. The festival begins with the slaughter of a goat to honour the religion's spirits. The blood is used as an offering to the spirits and the animals - such as chickens, goats, sheep and cows - are then cooked and shared amongst the worshippers. Despite experiencing the 'creepiness' of the voodoo market and rituals, Kieran would recommend Voodoo tourism to Brits who want to explore that part of the world. Meanwhile, Viktor is keen to share his passion for the area and religion with the world and invites those who are intrigued to his museum and to join his unorthodox holiday tours. 15 Viktor Wynd is a collector of Voodoo paraphernalia Credit: Gone With The Wynd 15 Viktor's museum houses an array of unusual artefacts and creepy curiosities Credit: Kennedy news and media
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Influencer & extreme sport enthusiast, 28, died after ‘tumbling through the air' as she fell 60ft off Brit mountain
AN influencer and extreme sports enthusiast died after "tumbling through the air" in a 60ft plunge off a British mountain 4 Maria amassed 10,000 followers, showcasing her outdoor lifestyle online Credit: WNS 4 She was a keen mountaineer Credit: WNS Maria suffered fatal head injuries and, despite the best efforts of medical staff, was tragically pronounced 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 Maria was an experienced mountaineer and had completed an ice-climbing course in Norway shortly before the horror unfolded. Read more in News 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 "She swung her right leg up to pull herself up. I asked 'Got it well?' and she said 'I think so." Most read in The Sun 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 Terrifying moment Scotland's top ranked skier plunges down mountain & suffers horror injuries Following her tragic death a 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. 4 An inquest heard Maria posed with pals for a "Mexican wave" before tumbling to her death Credit: WNS 4 Despite the best efforts of medics Maria tragically died at the scene Credit: WNS 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 "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 "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 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.'
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
UK agrees to ‘fluid border' between Gibraltar and Spain
The UK has agreed to a fluid border between Gibraltar and Spain, clearing the way to finalise a post-Brexit deal on the territory with the EU. Under the agreement, checks will not be required on people crossing the border. There will be dual border control checks for arrivals by air at Gibraltar airport, carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials. Talks on rules governing the border have been ongoing since Britain left the European Union in 2020. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the agreement was a 'breakthrough' after years of uncertainty and that the UK's commitment to Gibraltar 'remains as solid as the Rock itself'.
