Latest news with #MariaEftimova
Spectator
a day ago
- Spectator
The deadly curse of influencers
What's the most hazardous occupation? Deep sea fisherman? Uranium miner? Tail-end Charlie in a Lancaster bomber (not a career currently available)? I challenge anyone to find a speedier way to meet one's end than becoming an influencer. The sad death of 28-year-old University of Salford student Maria Eftimova, who tumbled off Tryfan, a 1,000ft mountain in Snowdonia during a hike organised on Facebook, is one of those all-too-regular headlines: an influencer who meets their end in their twenties, leaving tens of thousands of followers distraught. Policymakers fret over children falling under bad influences online – we have had an entire Online Safety Act to try to address the problem. But the hazards facing the influenced seem nothing like those suffered by the people who are doing the influencing.
Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Times
Wild swimmers die in Snowdonia pool
Two women have died after wild swimming in a waterfall pool on Mount Snowdon. A mountain rescue team was called to the Watkin Path up the 3,560ft Welsh peak at 9.31pm on Wednesday after one of the women was pulled from the water. The other woman was rescued after they arrived but both were pronounced dead at the scene. The eight-mile Watkin Path is one of the steepest paths up Snowdon, which is officially known by its Welsh name Yr Wyddfa. The waterfall pools along the path are among the most popular wild swimming spots in Snowdonia. Local police, an air ambulance and a coastguard rescue helicopter also scrambled to the mountain. North Wales police are now investigating the women's deaths. At least three other people have died in separate accidents this year in Snowdonia, also known as Eryri. Maria Eftimova, 28, a Bulgarian student at the University of Salford, fell 65ft while climbing Tryfan mountain on February 22. Dr Charlotte Crook, 30, a hospital clinician, slipped on grass and fell 32ft on February 16 while hiking Glyder Fach with her partner. The body of a man named only as John was found on Snowdon on May 25, after he was reported missing the day before. • The nation's riskiest hiking spots — and why they're getting busier The latest deaths in warm weather came as a drought was declared in Yorkshire after one of the driest springs on record, increasing the prospect of summer water restrictions. The Environment Agency raised the area from 'prolonged dry weather' status, after northwest England last month. Other areas are likely to follow including the east of England. The agency said wet weather helped to improve reservoir levels, but it was not enough to prevent Yorkshire entering drought. Yorkshire had two thirds of the rain it would usually expect in May. The area has experienced its warmest spring since records started in 1884. Reservoirs in Yorkshire were 63 per cent full at the end of last month, compared with 94 per cent in May last year. Dave Kaye, the director of Yorkshire Water, said: 'Without significant rainfall in the coming months, temporary usage restrictions are a possibility.' Thames Water has said it cannot rule out a hosepipe ban. Severn Trent, which serves the Midlands, is confident it will not need one. Water company bosses, including Nicola Shaw, the chief executive of Yorkshire Water, are due to join a meeting of the government's national drought group next month.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Adventure-loving woman fell to death climbing in north Wales beauty spot
A social media influencer with more than 10,000 followers died plunging 65ft when she lost her grip climbing a rocky mountain face, an inquest heard. Adventure-loving engineer Maria Eftimova, 28, was tackling the notorious Tryfan mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales, when the accident happened. Maria was climbing with friends and trying to get a handhold when she tumbled - and went into "freefall" down the mountain. Fellow climber Harry Jones said the group were going up the face one-by-one when he saw her fall. He said: "I could see on one particular ledge Maria stopped in order to get a handhold. to pull herself up. I was six ft below her, to the left. "She swung her right leg up to pull herself up. I asked 'Got it well?' and she said 'I think so." But he said moments later he was Maria "flying over me" and down the mountain. Neil Oakes, who was on a slightly different route up the mountain told of his horror at seeing Maria's fall. 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'. I was in shock. "The inquest heard she suffered severe head injuries including a fractured skull and despite help from paramedics she died at the scene. Maria was the second professional woman to die in the mountain range in a week following the death of 30-year-old Dr Charlotte Crook. Maria, of St Helens, but originally from Sofia, in Bulgaria, had more than 10,000 followers on social media where she showcased her outdoors lifestyle. She was an experienced mountaineer and had recently completed an ice-climbing course in Norway. But the Caernarfon hearing was told she fell on the mountain's notorious north ridge - a popular but dangerous scrambling route. Coroner Kate Robertson returned a conclusion of accidental death and passed on her condolences to her family and friends. She said: "It seems that Maria was scrambling with others when she has unintentionally and unexpectedly fallen and during the course of that fall she has sustained the injuries which have sadly led to her death." Friend Victoria Critchley, set up a fundraising page to help pay for repatriation costs, saying: "Maria was an ambitious, bright and cherished 28 year old, whose vibrant personality, energy and aura touched and uplifted all around her. "She had a passion for engineering, having studied Civil Engineering at the University of Salford and a love for extreme sports. Her biggest passion being Snowboarding, which she was super excited for and looking forward to doing again on her upcoming trip to Austria. "She had an insatiable thirst for life and exploring our world's beauty. Tragically, she was taken from her family far, far, far too soon!" Victoria said the fundraiser who help Maria's devastated family. She said: "Adding to their immense grief, the family, who reside in Bulgaria, face a significant financial burden to repatriate Maria and give her the dignified farewell with her loved ones that she deserves." Friend Jem Elder wrote: "We will miss you everyday, forever Maria Eftimova. Your beautiful, uplifting spirt will always live on, you really were the very definition of loving life and living a happy, fulfilled life, inspiring others to follow in your footsteps. See you on the last climb." The tragedy on February 22nd came just six days after Dr Charlotte Crook 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. Speaking of Maria's accident, the team said: "A group was ascending the north-ridge when one of them fell 20 metres into steep terrain. "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 Welsh Ambulance Service stood by at base while the Coastguard helicopter dropped team members onto the mountain. "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."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Travel influencer, 28, fell 60ft to her death in front of her friends on one of Britain's deadliest mountains
Friends of an extreme sports enthusiast who fell 60ft to her death from one of Britain's deadliest mountains watched in horror as she went 'tumbling through the air'. Influencer Maria Eftimova, 28, who friends said had an 'insatiable thirst for life and exploring our world's beauty', joined a Facebook group who went hiking up a 3,000ft Snowdonia peak, which is located in Wales. The thrill-seeker was an experienced mountaineer who had recently completed an ice-climbing course in Norway. But tragically the engineering student lost her footing when her heel slipped while scrambling up Tryfan on February 22. Neil Oakes, who was among a group of about 18 on the peak when the party split in two, said he had been ahead of Eftimova and turned around to check on his companions. 'I turned around again and saw Maria tumbling through the air below me,' he said in a statement to an inquest into her death on Wednesday. He added: 'I knew there was going to be an impact. I was shouting "No,no,no!" When I turned back she had hit the ledge below.' Harry Jones, another witness to the tragedy, said about seven of the group on the peak had been going from ledge to ledge. Eftimova was ahead of him and slipped as she pulled herself up. He said: 'All I saw was her flying over the top of my head and down the mountainside.' Jones said he 'froze' then called emergency services. A rescue helicopter and mountain rescuers arrived at the scene but Eftimova died from multiple injuries. Jed Stone, of Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team, told the hearing she had been scrambling on the north ridge of Tryfan, an area of steep rocky ground and many cliff faces. Originally from Bulgaria, Eftimova had lived in the UK for ten years. A heartbroken friend previously posted a video of the group of walkers attempting the 'Mexican wave' on the peak - half an hour before the tragic slip. Nargesse El Haiba wrote on Facebook in a tribute: 'This will have been roughly 30 minutes before your tragic accident and you taking your last breaths in front of me. 'I have grieved you and cried so much that I can't cry anymore. I will never take the mountains for granted again.' Eftimova - who was studying at Salford University in Manchester, England - was a keen climber, surfer and snowboarder who had climbed Tryfan several times. In a statement her father Rosen said: 'We learned about Maria's death from a telephone call from her friends with her at the time of the accident.' North West Wales senior coroner Kate Robertson told the hearing: 'Very sadly it seems Maria was scrambling with others when she's unintentionally and unexpectedly fallen. 'During the course of that fall, she has sustained the injuries which have sadly led to her death. That fall was entirely accidental.' She concluded that Eftimova's death had been an accident. When she opened the inquest, the coroner said Eftimova had been 'trying to reach a ledge to get a grip on the hand-hold and has gone to lift herself up'. She added: 'Her heel has slipped and she's fallen from the ledge and it appears she's fallen some distance.'
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Influencer & extreme sport enthusiast, 28, died after ‘tumbling through the air' as she fell 60ft off Brit mountain
The influencer was sadly pronounced dead at the scene TRAGIC END Influencer & extreme sport enthusiast, 28, died after 'tumbling through the air' as she fell 60ft off Brit mountain Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN influencer and extreme sports enthusiast died after "tumbling through the air" in a 60ft plunge off a British mountain Maria Eftimova, 28, went hiking up the 3,000ft peak before slipping on rocky ground and tumbling down the mountain to her death. 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 dead at the scene. 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 dangerous scrambling route. Maria was an experienced mountaineer and had completed an ice-climbing course in Norway shortly before the horror unfolded. 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 handhold to pull herself up, I was six ft below her, to the left. "She swung her right leg up to pull herself up. I asked 'Got it well?' and she said 'I think so." 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 outdoor lifestyle online. Terrifying moment Scotland's top ranked skier plunges down mountain & suffers horror injuries Following her tragic death a fundraiser was set up by friends to help cover repatriation costs. 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 steep terrain. "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 Welsh Ambulance Service stood by at base while the Coastguard helicopter dropped team members onto the mountain. "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 mountain at the time Maria fell, told of his horror at witnessing the tragedy unfold. 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.' I was in shock."
