A 35-year-old mother collapsed and died while walking down Yr Wyddfa this summer after suffering heatstroke, an inquest in Caernarfon has heard. Sophie Goodyer-Bird became unresponsive on the descent in July, and despite mountain rescue efforts, she was pronounced dead at 2.18pm.
Walk on Yr Wyddfa
Sarah Riley, assistant coroner for North-West Wales, told the inquest that Ms Goodyer-Bird walked up Yr Wyddfa in Eryri National Park with her friend Sophie Simpson on July 10. The pair took the Pyg Track while Ms Simpson's partner made his way up via Crib Goch.
Ms Goodyer-Bird reached the summit but grew increasingly tired as she made her way back down. She suffered a minor slip not far from the Pen-y-Pass car park, where they had left their vehicle, and her friend noticed she was struggling to maintain her balance.
Collapse and rescue
Ms Goodyer-Bird sat down, and Ms Simpson asked her partner to bring up a can of coke from the Pen-y-Pass car park. A passing couple suggested she may be suffering from heatstroke and assisted her in drinking water while also splashing water on the back of her neck.
Mountain rescue were subsequently called, and she became unresponsive. CPR was initiated and continued by members of the mountain rescue team, but they were unable to save her.
Post mortem findings
The inquest heard she had consumed several drinks throughout the trek, including water and Lucozade. A post mortem examination was conducted following the death of Ms Goodyer-Bird, who was a nail technician from Mulberry Road in Birmingham.
Pathologist Muhammad Mehdi, who carried out the post mortem examination, concluded that the death had occurred during strenuous and prolonged physical exertion in warm conditions. He found no additional factors that could have contributed to her collapse, with no alcohol or drugs detected in the blood and no relevant underlying medical conditions. He gave the cause of death as exertional heatstroke.
Family tribute
In a statement delivered at the inquest, Sophie's mother Christine Bird revealed that Sophie was one of four siblings who had worked in care and retail before training as a nail technician. She explained that Sophie had taken up fitness from 2024, and in the summer of 2026 had made plans to climb Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) with a friend. Her family had no concerns regarding her health or fitness levels, and the group departed Birmingham at 3am.
Christine said Sophie had been eagerly anticipating the walk and was determined to reach the summit, which she achieved. She described her daughter as a devoted mother, cherished daughter, and amazing sister, adding that on the day she passed away the light went out in our family.
Assistant coroner Sarah Riley recorded the medical cause of death as exertional heatstroke, concluding that Ms Goodyer-Bird had died from natural causes. She extended her sincere condolences to the friends and family of Ms Goodyer-Bird at this difficult time.
