Travel influencer, 28, plunged 65ft to her loss of life when her heel slipped whereas ‘scrambling’ with friends in Snowdonia

A travel influencer plunged 65ft to her death after her heel slipped as she climbed a mountain in Snowdonia.

Maria Eftimova, 28, was going up the notorious Tryfan mountain at the Welsh national park when the accident happened.

An inquest was told how as she attempted to reach for a ledge, her heel slipped, which caused her to tumble a ‘considerable distance’.

The civil engineer suffered severe head injuries which included a fractured skull, and, despite the best efforts of paramedics, she died at the scene on February 22.

The 28-year-old was the second professional woman to die in the mountain range in a week following the death of Dr Charlotte Crook, 30.

The influencer, 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 inquest heard in Caernarfon was told she fell on the mountain’s notorious north ridge – a popular but dangerous scrambling route.

Coroner Kate Roberston adjourned the hearing, saying: ‘I send my sincere condolences to all Maria Eftimova’s family and friends.’

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 came just six days 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.

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.’

This comes after ‘dedicated’ and ‘promising’ young doctor tragically plunged to her death while scrambling with a friend on a Welsh mountain, an inquest heard.

Dr Charlotte Crook, 30, and her colleague Adam Weatherhogg were walking on Glyder Fach, near Llanberis, Snowdonia, on February 16 when the tragedy occurred.

Hospital clinician and St John Ambulance volunteer Dr Crook was descending a section of path on her stomach when she appeared to lose her footing and went over a ledge, the hearing was told.

Dr Crook, who graduated with her medical degree from Birmingham University in 2022 and had worked for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, was thought to have fallen about 10 metres (30ft) down the side of the 994m (3,126ft mountain).

At a brief hearing at Ruthin John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, said that after Dr Crook fell, Mr Weatherhogg found a safer route down to his stricken friend.

He carried out CPR on her until members of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team arrived to take over but Dr Crook, of Perry Barr, Birmingham, died at the scene.

Pathologist Dr Muhammad Aslam gave the cause of death as head injuries.

On Facebook, St John Ambulance Walsall posted: ‘St John Walsall were saddened to learn of the sudden death of Dr Charlotte Crook.

‘Charlotte was a diligent and dedicated volunteer, who represented the values of the organisation in the best way possible.

‘She was the District Youth Lead for the West Midlands District up until our recent restructuring so many of the cadets will have met her at various courses or events.

‘She will be sadly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this very sad time.’