'Greatly loved' martial arts coach died after slipping on loose rock on Welsh peak
A 19-year-old student climbing in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) with his brothers lost his footing on loose rock while climbing Tryfan. Philip Zhu, 19, and his brothers had tried to take a shortcut but stood on loose rock while on the 3,000ft peak.
Philip Zhu, 19, was hiking with his brothers at Tryfan, Capel Curig, Conwy on Monday, May 6, when he convinced them to take a “shortcut”, but lost his balance on loose rock and fell. At an inquest into his death, a conclusion of an accidental death was recorded.
The inquest, held at County Hall, Ruthin, on September 27, found the medical cause of Mr Zhu's death, a student and martial arts coach of Sandy Road, Seaforth, was blunt force head and spinal injuries due to a fall from height.
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Volunteers from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team were called out to the location where the brothers had been, on the West Face of Tryfan. Rescuers went to a location known as V Cleft and found the teenager’s body. The brothers were then assisted off the peak. Philip's brother Andrew told police they were trying to take a shortcut but his brother "was on a loose rock and slid all the way down".
John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central) found recorded a conclusion of accidental death. A post-mortem examination found no drugs or alcohol in Mr Zhu’s system. Concluding, Mr Gittins said :”The injuries were unsurvivable and almost certainly injuries which caused immediate death to Mr Zhu.
"He will be sorely missed by everyone. " Coroner Gittins also expressed particular condolences to Philip's brothers who witnessed the tragedy.
His uncle Philip Cheng said after the inquest:”The community has been very upset but super supportive. Everybody at the gym, everybody around the area of Seaforth has been really amazing. We can’t thank them enough. We are very proud of Philip for all he achieved. He was a special young man. He’s a great loss to our family.”
The inquest heard Mr Zhu had hoped to join the RAF. Philip had been a member of The Combat Unit martial arts gym at Seaforth since he was 11 and coached children and professional fighters.
Connor Dickinson, owner of The Combat Unit, said previously: “I grew up with Phil. I have done martial arts for 20 years and started coaching it eight years ago when Phil was just 11. On the first day I stepped onto the mat as a coach he stepped on as a student. I have coached him since that day. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news
"I have watched him grow up from being a teenager to being a man, he worked his way through as a student and then became a coach himself. He has taken junior classes and adult classes as well, he was a massive part of the community and massive part of the gym. He is always cleaning the gym, he was at every competition, cornering fighters, he was always there in the corner.
"Phil was really one of a kind. He always had the greatest smile from ear to ear and could light up a room with it. He fully dedicated his life to martial arts and in recent years his passion was passing on his knowledge to the next generation in the most fun and loving way you could imagine.
"Phil was such a loving son and brother. Always going out his way for his family and making sure to spend quality time with them as much as he could. He was greatly loved in the whole combat sports community and he was very well known for how much of a talented fighter he was, but more importantly known for being a really genuine, nice person. Phil will be missed by many, and forever hold a special place in everyone’s hearts."