Snowdon walker plunges 820ft to death after slipping on ice on Welsh mountain

A walker has died after falling more than 800 feet down a steep slope on Snowdon.

The man was spotted plunging down a cliff near the 3,560 foot summit of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales.

He is believed to have slipped in snow and ice and fallen from a railway track into an area called Clogwyn Coch, around 820 feet (250 metres) below.

A rescue team spokesman said the Llanberis Path, which is popular with walkers during the warmer months, had become a "serious snow slope" in parts.

Volunteers from the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were called by North Wales Police at around 12.35pm on Saturday.

A team doctor was with the casualty within 15 minutes of the first call and confirmed the walker had been killed.

A post on the rescue team's Facebook page said eight mountain rescuers were then airlifted to the area by a Maritime and Coastgurad Agency helicopter.

It said: "A male had slipped on ice and snow and fallen from the Railway track in to Clogwyn Coch some 250m. 

"Within 15 minutes of the male falling one of our team doctors was on scene and could confirm that the male was deceased."

^{Clogwyn Coch is in the north of Snowdonia National Park}

The statement added: "Due to the seriousness of the incident the team requested the assistance of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency rescue helicopter.

"Eight team members were air lifted up to Clogwyn station and made their way up to the team doctor and casualty. 

"Once on scene the casualty was secured and lowered to the bottom of the Cwm and carried down the Llanberis path to a point were the helicopter was able to return and recover the casualty to hospital.

"The team would like to offer our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. Also like to thank the members of public who assisted in the incident."

The dead walker has not yet been named.