Date of report: 10/09/2026
Ref: 2026-0423
Deceased name: Jayden Long and Eddie Hill
Coroner name: Sarah Riley
Coroner Area: North West Wales
This report is being sent to: North Wales Police
| REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS | |
|---|---|
| 1 | CORONER I am Sarah Riley, Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of North West Wales. |
| 2 | DATE OF REPORT 10th September 2026 |
| 3 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. |
| 4 | THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO 1. North Wales Police You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by 6th November 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period if an appropriate application is made. |
| 5 | YOUR RESPONSE Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise, you must explain why no action is proposed. I have a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner. I will pass any representations received to the Chief Coroner for a decision. The names of those who do not respond to PFD reports are regularly published on the Chief Coroner’s webpages Non-responses to Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. |
| 6 | SUMMARY OF CORONER’S CONCERN 1. Not identifying all service falures 2. Inadequate systems for sharing identified learning 3. Learning not disseminated Force-wide 4. No routine auditing of calls |
| 7 | ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion unless action is taken to address the above concerns then there is a significant risk of future deaths and I believe each of you have the power to take such action. |
| 8 | INVESTIGATION AND INQUEST On the 27th February 2026 , I commenced an investigation into the death of Jayden Jackson Long and Eddie Joseph Hill aged 19 and 20 years. The two individuals were discovered deceased at 11.04am on the 19th February 2026, having fallen down steep, mountainous terrain, in adverse weather with the ground covered in ice and snow. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 10th September 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was “accident”. The cause of death recorded in respect of both individuals was “1a Multiple Traumatic Injuries” |
| 9 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH JJL and EJH had travelled from their homes in Norwich to North Wales with the intention of climbing Snowdon. They parked in the Pen y Pass car park at 12.50pm on the 18th February 2026 and began their ascent. The route they intended to take is not known. Likewise, the route they did take is not known. At 16.22hrs, EJH sent his girlfriend a message noting that due to the weather they were going back down the ridge. We do not know what ridge they were on at the time. On the basis of this evidence, I found that they had not reached the summit and had began their descent on or around 16.22hrs. At 16.27pm on the 18th February, North Wales Police were presented with a discontinued call from JJL’s mobile. On playback, Jayden was heard to say “hello” followed by “can you hear me?” before contact was lost. North Wales Police made attempts to contact the mobile number from which the discontinued call was made but were unsuccessful. Attempts by North Wales Police to establish who the mobile number belonged to were limited and they did not contact Mountain Rescue until 19.38hrs. At that point, the following actions were agreed between North Wales Police and Mountain Rescue: The above intelligence enquiries had not been actioned in advance of contact with Mountain Rescue. There is no organisational policy or procedure available to guide staff in respect of the intelligence enquiries that should be considered in circumstances such as those with which NWP were presented |
| 10 | CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the inquest I heard evidence giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: |
| 11 | COPIES AND PUBLICATION OF THIS REPORT I have a duty to send a copy of my report to every Interested Person who in my opinion should receive it. I also may send a copy of the report to any other person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. I can confirm I have sent the report to: I also have a duty to send a copy of the report to the Chief Coroner. You may make representations to me, the coroner, about the publication of the contents of this report in line with Chief Coroner’s PFD Publication Policy (2026). Any representations will be sent to the Chief Coroner alongside the report. Please refer to box 4 above for additional information relating to the publication of reports and responses. |
| 12 | SIGNATURE Sarah Riley |
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