A man with a broken wrist spent an hour trying to save his hospital doctor friend after she fell 30ft to her death, an inquest heard today.
Dr Charlotte Crook, 31, and her colleague Adam Weatherhogg had been walking in Snowdonia on February 16 when Ms Crook slipped and plunged off a grassy ledge.
Senior coroner John Gittins praised the ‘amazing efforts’ that Mr Weatherhogg made as he carried out chest compressions in a bid to help Dr Crook, of Perry Barr, Birmingham.
Her parents described the hills and mountains as their only child’s ‘happy place’. She had a ‘passion for exploration of the great outdoors’.
Dr Crook was an experienced walker but died from a head injury last February on Glyder Fach.
The Ruthin hearing was told that she had been descending when she slipped.
Mr Weatherhogg dialled 999 and tried to reach Dr Crook but also slipped and injured his arm, causing significant pain.
Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team said they were descending a scrambling route and the rock was greasy.
Mr Gittins said: ‘I have absolutely no doubt that death would have been instantaneous and Charlie wouldn’t have suffered.’
The tragedy was a ‘conspiracy of all matters at that time, weather, route and loss of footing’.
The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
He remarked that Dr Crook was ‘incredibly talented’.
After the inquest, Clare Crook, her mother, said: ‘We are so proud of her. She wanted to be the best she could be, to make a difference and not be forgotten.’
Dr Crook was a St John Ambulance volunteer, a member of the Order of St John and also West Midlands Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency (CARE) team, a charitable organisation which responds to serious medical incidents. A tribute from a friend at CARE declared: ‘Charlie was an inspiration to all of us at CARE.’
She will be remembered at St Paul’s Cathedral at a commemoration service for the Order.
A University of Birmingham simulation suite to practise medical skills is also due to be dedicated to her memory.
Her mother told the coroner: ‘It’s important to us she is remembered.’
