Pictured: Banker, 49, who fell to his death while hiking on popular Snowdonia track with friends – as his final words are revealed
- Sam Caley died in June during a hiking trip in Snowdonia
A banker who fell to his death while hiking in Snowdonia told friends he ‘could do with some help’ as he struggled to descend the 300 foot Tryfan peak, an inquest has heard.
Banker Sam Caley, 49, shouted to his friends: ‘I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know if I can find my way back’ after he had separated from his group to find a different route down the mountain.
At the inquest in Ruthin the assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central Kate Robertson read a statement from one of his friends, Tony Clarke, in which he described the problems they faced while descending the peak.
The four friends arrived in North Wales on June 7, intending to stay two nights, and that afternoon set off up Tryfan, one of the most recognisable peaks in Snowdonia.
One of them turned back because he found it too physically demanding, but the other three made it to the summit, where they rested.
Banker Sam Caley, 49, died while hiking in Snowdonia back in June
Snowdonia is a national park in North Wales
Mr Caley, a 49-year-old from Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire and a programme director at Deutsche Bank, was an experienced hiker, but while Clarke and the third member of the group, Adriaan Commander headed down the path towards the Heather Terrace he followed a parallel path.
In his statement Clarke said he shouted at Caley to come back to them but he may not have heard.
‘We told him to retrace his steps but he was reluctant,’ he said.
The two lost sight of him but heard him say: ‘I could do with some help here guys.’
Clarke described how he then saw his friend falling and he tried to see where he had landed.
An off-duty paramedic who was a qualified mountain guide went to their assistance and the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team was called out.
‘Adriaan and I were in shock,’ said Clarke.
Caley was declared dead at the scene, having suffered head injuries.
The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
Following his death over £16,000 has been raised in his memory towards a new boat for Marlow Sailing Club.
Tributes for Caley described him as ‘incredibly bright’ and ‘an unforgettable man’.
