Climber's 'truly tragic' death

Claire Stickler was visiting Gower on a week's holiday

An Army officer told how he lost his grip and fell while climbing a cliff face on the Gower coast, pulling his close friend to her death.

Jimmy Goddard - who has been left paralysed from the chest down - fell 60ft from a ledge at Rhossili when the rock-face crumbled.

He was attached by a line to Claire Stickler, 24, from Bristol, who died instantly from multiple injuries.

Swansea Coroner Philip Rogers called it a "truly tragic accident."

Former Swansea University student Ms Stickler was a lieutenant in the 3rd Royal Horse Artillery.

Mr Rogers recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing that the relatively novice climbers had made a double error on 3 August 2004.

Firstly, they had intended to follow an established climb, detailed in a Gower climbing book - but had wrongly identified the location.

Secondly, the couple had not anchored their line to the cliff face, something climbing expert Dr Alan Richardson told the inquest would have "absolutely" saved her life.

Since her death, we appreciate how many good people there are in the world - something which is good to remember today Peter Stickler, Claire's father

The inquest heard Ms Stickler and Mr Goddard, also a lieutenant, with 45 Commando in Scotland, were visiting Gower on a week's holiday.

The couple had once been boyfriend and girlfriend, after meeting at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, but remained close friends, the inquest heard.

They had researched the climb by both reading a climbing guide and talking to people in the National Trust shop at the beauty spot.

Mr Goddard, 27, from Reading, Berkshire, told the inquest: "We got to the top of the cliff and were having difficulty finding it (the climb). By the time we descended onto the ledge, we were happy that we thought we knew where we were."

He said he had only climbed four to five feet, when he reached across to get a piece of safety equipment. The rock face crumbled and he fell. "The last thing I can remember is the rock coming away in my hands".

Dr Richardson, an international mountain guide with 25 years experience, said the friends were properly kitted out.

The couple were climbing at the eastern end of Rhossili beach

He said he would have expected Mr Goddard to have anchored the rope before starting the climb but said if the cliff face was unstable, that would not always have been possible.

He said it was common for even experienced climbers to have difficulty identifying specific climbs.

"Sea cliffs are notoriously difficult to identify - it's not an unknown problem," said Dr Richardson.

The inquest heard how emergency services made desperate attempts to revive Ms Stickler, but after being flown to Morriston Hospital in an air ambulance she was declared dead.

The coroner said: "What should have been an enjoyable day's climbing for these two young people, ended in a truly tragic accident."

'High octane personality'

Speaking after the inquest, her father Peter, from the Whitehall area of Bristol, said he attached no blame whatsoever to Mr Goddard.

He suffered multiple injuries including a broken back.

Mr Stickler paid tribute to the emergency services and said: "Claire was a wonderful daughter, sister and grandaughter - and is missed by her family and friends".

Mr Stickler called his daughter a "high octane personality" and said her battery in the Army had since established an annual award.

The Stickler Award is given to the most outstanding gunner in C Battery.

"Since her death, we appreciate how many good people there are in the world - something which is good to remember today, given the tragic events in London."