Jack Carne, 23, was just 30 feet from the Gribin Ridge summit when his handhold suddenly gave way on a hike with best friends Mattie Belcher, 24, and Brandan Smith, 23, on Saturday.
The mountaineering trio, all from Barnsley, were tackling the Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach peaks ahead of a dream hike up Mount Kilimanjaro later this year.
Search and rescue teams believe Jack’s fall down the sheer rockface killed him ‘almost instantly’.
‘It doesn’t feel real’, Mr Belcher revealed. ‘We were so close to the top. Jack went to grab a handhold and it just broke away.
‘I’ll never forget how quiet he was when he fell. When Jack fell there was no noise. He didn’t shout or scream or anything. He just fell. One second he was there, the next he wasn’t.
‘We shouted to him and tried to get down, but he was unresponsive and going after him was too dangerous – it was a near-vertical drop and the conditions were getting worse.
‘Thankfully we had phone signal and were able to call search and rescue within 20 seconds.
‘When we spoke to the paramedics they said if it was any consolation, he would have died instantly.
‘The three of us went hiking and camping most weekends. This week we were planning to book a trip to the Alps, and we were going to climb Kilimanjaro together later this year.
‘I’ve known him for most of my life, he’s like a brother to me. He was the nicest bloke you could hope to meet. I just can’t believe he’s gone.’
Mr Smith added: ‘He was one of my best mates. He’s like family. He always had a cheeky smile on his face, he was everyone’s friend. Every two weeks we’d go climbing or something.
‘It still doesn’t feel real. When I saw him fall I felt numb. I think I knew deep down that he was gone, but I tried to keep some hope until they found his body.’
Jack Carne Age
Jack Carne, 23 years of age.
Jack Carne Parents: Who Are Jack Carne Parents?
The information on Jack parents is not in the public space.
Jack Carne Wife: Was Jack Carne Married?
Jack is not married.
Jack Carne Children: Dd Jack Carne Have Kids?
Jack has no children