Two women die in water at national park beauty spot
Two women have died after being found in a pool at Wales' largest national park.
North Wales Police said they were called to Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd, at 21:31 BST on Wednesday in Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia.
One woman was reported to be in the pool on the Watkin Path, one of the main routes to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, Wales' tallest mountain.
The second woman was pulled from the water but pronounced dead at the scene, the force said.
"Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of both women," said Det Ch Insp Andy Gibson.
An investigation is under way, and potential witnesses are urged to come forward.
A mountain rescue team, as well as police, air ambulance and a coastguard helicopter were sent to the scene.
Jurgen Dissmann, chairman of Llanberis mountain rescue team, said it was a "complex and difficult callout" carried out alongside Aberglaslyn mountain rescue colleagues.
County councillor June Jones called the incident a "tragedy".
"It is obviously very sad news for the families and the sympathy of the whole valley is with the families," she said.
She told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast that social media "encourages people" to go to these natural beauty spots.
"We don't know what has happened... social media encourages people to go to these wonderful places and of course the water can be extremely cold," she said.
More than 600,000 people climb up Yr Wyddfa every year, and the summit can get very busy during the summer season.
At 1,085m (3,559ft) it is the highest mountain in Wales and the busiest mountain in the UK.
The Watkin Path is regarded as one of hardest routes to to the summit of Yr Wyddfa.
But it is a relatively easy hike to the pools and waterfalls where the two women died.
They can be found close to the start of the path in the Nant Gwynant valley where they have become a social media sensation in recent times.
Hundreds of TikTok and Instagram videos can be found showing people taking a dip in the crystal clear water running off the mountain.
But after days of heavy rain across the national park, the gentle streams cascading into the pools have turned into torrents of foaming white water.
The water from the Afon Cwm Llan river has created a dangerous and powerful undercurrent that has flowed into the plunge pools below.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chuka Emezue: Raising sons in the age of digital masculinity
Celebrating Father's Day in the U.S. evokes images of dads at grills, toddlers joyfully perched on shoulders and heartfelt tributes. Behind these cherished moments lies a silent crisis: boys and young men navigating a digital minefield where messaging around masculinity promotes dominance over empathy, toughness over vulnerability, and isolation over connection. All of it is shaping a generation at risk of mental health challenges, violence and despair. Caught in this cultural crossfire, young boys and men are flooded with social media content in which personal growth is packaged as a countercultural break from the mainstream. In truth, this type of messaging reinforces the norms it claims to reject. As a father, mentor and researcher working with young boys and men who survive, witness and use violence, I see how online spaces have become powerful in shaping their identity. A slew of online accounts now focuses on shaping how boys perceive strength, integrity and vulnerability in ways that have serious real-world consequences. When boys and men are socialized to fear vulnerability, equate power with aggression and distrust care, we cannot be surprised that many young men struggle with mental health, suicidal ideation and substance use; lash out; or avoid emotional intimacy. We live in an era in which perverse forms of masculinity are algorithmically promoted, politically exploited and culturally rebranded. In the wake of this gender reckoning, curious forms of masculinity have emerged online. The algorithm is flooding young boys and men with content from 'grindset' coaches or 'manfluencers' promising transformation through military-level self-discipline, and even self-mutilation, under the guise of self-improvement. A 2024 study from Dublin City University found that 62% of recommended videos on YouTube Shorts and TikTok for accounts set up as boys featured 'alpha male' or dominance-focused content disguised as self-help by adult manfluencers preying on their young and impressionable viewers. There is also a reemergence of artificially nostalgic versions of women with the rise of the 'tradwife' movement on TikTok, signaling a reactionary return to 'traditional' female roles framed as a remedy for declining male authority. Similarly, the newly popular 'clean girl' aesthetic is idealized by thin, white, porcelain-skinned and obediently minimalist women, offering a polished, passive image of femininity that complements these masculine masculinity redefines itself online, gaps in the real world continue to widen. Girls and women now outperform boys at nearly every educational level. Boys have lower reading and writing scores, are more likely to be suspended or diagnosed with learning and behavioral issues, and are less likely to graduate from high school or attend college. Traditional male roles, such as provider or protector, have been redefined by economic, social and technological changes in recent years. It is unsurprising that mental health crises among boys and young men are increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates among adolescent boys have increased by over 30% in the past decade. Likewise, opioid deaths and social isolation are higher among men, especially young and working-class males. This rise is paralleled by a concerning decline in those receiving mental health care, with only 34% of men seeking help compared with more than 50% of women. Rather than adapting, many boys and men are left confused, resentful and aimless. Fatherhood and positive male role modeling must offer a different path for young boys and men caught in this crisis of masculinity. This issue extends beyond the boys themselves, signifying a crisis in parenting and the systems that support parents. For those of us raising or mentoring sons, this issue warrants a re-evaluation of how we wished to be supported during our own upbringing. It is crucial to recognize that many parents grapple with their own trauma and mental health issues, which makes it difficult to provide what they themselves lack. Often, this trauma is passed down generationally, and now they face the challenge of raising both sons and daughters while managing this unaddressed trauma. This underscores the importance of parenting education and fatherhood programs. Equally vital are involved fathers, positive role modeling, mentoring and the presence of visible, engaged male educators, especially for boys growing up without male caregivers. Constructive, gender-specific interventions that help boys and men thrive without undermining gender equity are also crucial. Father's Day reminds us that while we cannot solve these issues overnight, we can work toward healing at home, in schools and online. We must nurture boys and men to fearlessly connect with their emotions, support their peers, play, enjoy peace and openly embrace empathy. We need boys who understand consent. Boys who value care over control. Boys who show vulnerability instead of 'manning up.' Boys who feel hopeful. Digital masculinity is not merely an abstract concept or a passing trend; it is actively shaping our children's perceptions of love, identity and self-worth. We cannot afford to remain passive observers while technology raises our children. Our boys are watching, and it is imperative that we take action to guide them through this transformative landscape of masculinity.
Buzz Feed
14 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Turn Your Kid's Leftovers Into Dinner — Here's How
TikTok parents have a new 'hack' for dealing with the chaos that is toddler mealtime: Instead of tossing all the half-eaten chicken nuggets, squished fruit, and mutilated PB&Js, they're turning those leftovers into helpful food items, toddler lunches, and sometimes even full-blown adult meals, as evidenced by TikTok user @ delicious leftover-sourced snack platter. The idea is simple (and kind of genius?): Take the scraps your kid didn't touch and transform them into something you actually want to eat — all in the name of reducing food waste, saving time, and, let's be honest, maintaining your grip on reality. I'd bet every parent has felt the frustration of throwing away full plates of barely-eaten food. As a mom of two toddlers (yes, I survived the two under two club.. barely), I am equal parts intrigued and deeply skeptical. Can this actually work, or is it just one more unrealistic parenting fantasy brought to you by the internet? I decided to try it using my own kids' real dinner leftovers. Here's what happened. The "meal" I attempted to make? Turning leftover meatloaf into mini sliders. The Leftovers: The Upgrade: Hey, you! Wanna cook 7,500+ recipes in step-by-step mode (with helpful videos) right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. The Verdict: Honestly? It was delicious. The meatloaf held up surprisingly well, and the extra ketchup totally brought it back to life. But — and this is a big but — it wasn't exactly effortless. I made this while my toddlers were at daycare and ate it in peace. The real work wasn't the cooking, it was the mental energy of figuring out how to reinvent a kid's half-eaten plate. Was it a fun little culinary challenge? Sure. Was it some life-changing mom hack? Absolutely not. Now, I did walk away from this experiment with a few useful takeaways. Thinking about my kids' leftovers differently — not as trash, but as potential ingredients — can actually lead to some smart, sustainable wins. For example: Small shifts like these make me feel a little less wasteful and a little more creative in the kitchen without all the pressure of a full-fledged meal! At the end of the day, the toddler leftovers trend is... a mixed bag. If you've got the time, energy, and mental space, it can be a fun way to reduce waste and flex some creative kitchen muscles. But if your kids are screaming, the sink is full, and you haven't sat down since breakfast? It's also completely OK to eat a half-eaten grilled cheese over the counter and call it a win. Would you try this trend with your own kids? If you want to (or already have!), let me know what you're thinking about making in the comments. And for good measure, here are my kids (sort of) eating their dinner. For hundreds of kid-friendly recipes, download the free Tasty app for iOS and Android!
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Footage of sea lion found wandering 30 miles away from coastline sparks outcry: 'This instantly made my heart so sad'
The effects of humans on the climate are increasingly dire, and with social media, we can see the impact firsthand. An Instagram video has garnered attention from concerned wildlife lovers, showing a sea lion 30 miles from the coast to which it belongs. This heartbreaking video was shared by Washington Post climate coverage (@postclimate) and shows a lone sea lion wandering the dry landscape of Chile's Torres del Paine National Park. The text in the video reads, "According to a regional director for Chile's National Fisheries Service, the sea lion was likely searching for food." While the Professional Association of Diving Instructors reports that sea lions can be out of water for extended periods with no problem, it is abnormal for the animals to be so far from their stomping grounds, as proved by locals' and professionals' reaction to seeing it. Commenters on the post shared similar shock. "This instantly made my heart so sad," one said. Someone else added, "We're watching the climate crisis, and the demise of all of the innocent, magnificent creatures that had nothing to do with it." The sea lion's hunger led it to territory where it did not belong. As a sea lion's diet consists entirely of marine life, per NOAA Fisheries, this one's journey signifies the dark impact of issues such as overfishing, resource shortages, pollution, and habitat destruction. Sea lions elsewhere have exhibited similar strange behaviors as a result of climate change. In California in 2023, a boy was bitten by a sea lion while swimming. Though sea lions are not to be considered friends — as is true for any wild animal — this one was acting strangely, with twitching eyes and a lethargic demeanor, likely because of toxic algae nearby. These experiences with sea lions highlight how pollution, habitat destruction, and the overheating planet have trickle-down effects that harm everyone. Fortunately, the sea lion was brought back to its home and joined its herd. While a positive end to the creature's story, the work is far from done in protecting wildlife. To combat the climate crisis, first and foremost, you can get educated and inform those around you. From there, actionable steps include quitting single-use plastics, not littering, and switching to more eco-friendly energy sources. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
