Snowdonia death: Fiancee's tribute to 'soulmate' climber
- Published
The "absolutely heartbroken" fiancee of a mountaineering instructor has paid an emotional tribute to her "soulmate" after he died in a climbing accident.
Tom Furey, 30, fell 150ft (46m) on Cwm Cneifion, Snowdonia on Saturday.
Mr Furey, from Wrexham, was flown by Coastguard helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor but died from his injuries.
"I promise to fulfil our dreams Tom! I will love you forever! I'm so so sorry!" Katie Simmons wrote on Facebook.
Mr Furey was a qualified mountaineering and climbing instructor with 15 years experience, in addition to being a qualified winter mountain leader and expedition leader.
The alarm was initially raised by a father and 16-year-old son climbing the Idwal Slabs, after they spotted a man lying injured who had previously passed them.
I'm not entirely sure how I am supposed to do this: I still keep telling myself that this isn't real. But...
Posted by Katie Simmo Simmons on Monday, June 13, 2022
"Tom Furey - my fiance, my soulmate, my person, the absolute love of my life sadly passed away on 11 June following a climbing accident," wrote Ms Simmons.
'Unbelievably shocked'
"We cherished every day we had together, never missed a moment and told each other how much we loved each other every day.
"We are all unbelievably shocked and absolutely heartbroken but he was doing something he loved and that is what's important.
"You inspired so many people in the climbing and mountaineering world but also in everyday life and unbelievably in the water sports world too. We were all so lucky to have you come into our lives!"
Tom Furey was a team member with NEWSAR from 2010-2014. We send our deepest condolences to his fiancé Katie and the rest of his family,
— NEWSAR (@newsar) June 14, 2022
Thanks to @OVMRO and @HMCoastguard for their valiant effort to save him. pic.twitter.com/DOibkSCnR1
North East Wales Search and Rescue, of which Mr Furey was a team member between 2010 and 2014, described him as a "cheerful and capable" man who passed on his skills to many.
Mr Furey, who ran an outdoor adventure company in Wrexham, had previously climbed and led expeditions across the world.
Chris Lloyd, of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, described Mr Furey as a "well-known and popular" local mountaineering professional, who was known to many of the rescue team.
"Our thanks go to the father and son who experienced this shocking event," said Mr Lloyd.
Conditions were blustery on the peak, but it is not clear yet how the fall occurred.
Very sad to hear of the death of @Tom_Furey in the Ogwen Valley on Saturday. He left Twitter a while back but was very well liked and much respected in the mountains. Really sad news.
— Nick Jones 💙 (@resophonick) June 14, 2022
