Young climber on Malaga holiday plummeted to death 'after split second mistake'

Daily Record

7 hours ago

An inquest heard Zachary Cook was climbing a route with his dad Jonathan in Malaga when he fell 20 metres, suffering fatal injuries.
A young climber plummeted to his death in a"terrible accident" while on holiday with his father in Spain after a detaching a safety clip at the wrong time.
An inquest heard Zachary Cook was climbing a route with dad Jonathan in Malaga when he fell 20 metres, suffering fatal injuries.
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The 22-year-old from Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire, was on an adventure trip when the tragedy struck on December 11 last year, Avon Coroner's Court heard.
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Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing spoke at a post-mortem examination, conducted in Spain, and gave Mr Cook's cause of death as poly (severe) trauma resulting from the fall.
The court was told on Monday a group of medics, who were in the vicinity, rushed to help but he died later at the scene.
Coroner's officer Alexis Camp told the hearing climbers are "required to have two safety clips on their person and on the safety wires on the rock face".
He added: "Prior to the start of the climb, they were informed to only unclip one of the safety clips from the safety wire at any one time and never to unclip both safety clips at the same time.
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"Around halfway through the route, Zachary unclipped both of his safety clips from the safety wire, which resulted in him falling around 20 metres below."
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The court heard a group of medics were in the vicinity and went to Mr Cook's aid but he died later at the scene. Area coroner Dr Harrowing said: 'The family have no concerns surrounding any of the treatment or care received by Zachary from any of the medical professionals involved.
"They believe this was a terrible accident and nothing more could have been done.'
He recorded a conclusion of misadventure, adding: 'He fell around 20 metres while climbing causing him to suffer traumatic injuries. The conclusion as to the death based on the evidence will be recorded as misadventure.
'The family (are) not in attendance today but I nonetheless send my most sincerest condolences to the family and all the friends of Zachary at this time.'