Newport climber's body found after cliff fall

The body of a man found in Snowdonia is that of Shropshire climber Christopher Whitfield, police confirmed today.

Mr Whitfield, 42, who came from Newport but lived in Birmingham, had been missing since Sunday, June 24. Rescue teams and search dogs had scoured hillsides for Mr Whitfield.

His body was found on Friday afternoon, North Wales Police confirmed.

Mr Whitfield had been planning to climb Tryfan but concerns were raised for his safety when his car was found in a lay-by in the Ogwen Valley on Wednesday.

His body was found 90 metres below a cliff on the 1,000 metre Glyder Fawr mountain in the Ogwen Valley.

Today his family, who live in Lilleshall, near Newport, said Mr Whitfield died doing something he loved.

A statement said: "Following Chris's disappearance on Sunday, family and friends gathered in Snowdonia to assist in the search and be near him.

"The outcome was not the one we were wishing for, and has come as a great shock.

"We now appreciate, however painful it is for us, that Chris was doing something he truly loved, in one of his favourite places, and that he did not suffer unnecessarily.

"The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to all the mountain rescue personnel and local police who helped locate Chris and bring him home from the mountain in adverse conditions.

"Without their professionalism, commitment and kindness we might never have known what happened. The family ask that their privacy be respected during this traumatic time."

Officers said it had been a 'protracted and difficult'operation to recover the fallen climber from steep and loose ground.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: "We can confirm the body found on Glydyr Fawr, Snowdonia during the early afternoon of June 29, has been formally identified as missing Birmingham man 42-year-old Christopher Whitfield.

"Mr Whitfield had been reported missing since Sunday, June 24. His death is not being treated as suspicious."

The North Wales coroner has been informed.

By Joseph Masi