Climber tragedy close to summit

A climber from Walsall has died after collapsing with a heart attack as he scaled Mount Snowdon with a party of family and friends.

Tragedy struck when Robert William Langham was taken ill on the Pyg Track, close to the 3,560ft summit of the mountain in North Wales.

The 53-year-old was travelling up the mountain with a party of 12 on Saturday.

He was found by another group of climbers making their way up the mountain, a rescue was quickly launched but the man could not be revived. The victim was airlifted to hospital but died a short time later. Five members of his family who were walking with him were also airlifted to safety.

Ian Henderson, of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, said: "We were called shortly after 1pm and were told that a man on the Pyg Track, which is near the summit, had collapsed. He and his party were discovered by another group of people going up the mountain who were able to call the police."

He added: "When they arrived it transpired there was already a doctor at the scene who said that unfortunately the man had died."

The body of the climber was carried down the mountain side by members of the rescue team before being ferried to a hospital in Bangor. Today North West Wales Coroner Office said a post mortem had concluded Mr Langham died of a heart attack. Cause of death was recorded as natural causes and no inquest will be held.