Tributes have been paid to two young men who died during a hiking expedition on Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, in north Wales. Eddie Hill, 20, and Jayden Long, 19, both from Norfolk, were found dead in Eryri National Park on Thursday after a major search operation in severe winter conditions.
The pair were reported missing on Wednesday after losing contact with family and friends. Three mountain rescue teams, search dogs, and a coastguard helicopter combed the mountain that day and into the night, discovering two bodies the next day. North Wales Police confirmed the men had been formally identified and the coroner notified.
Family members described Hill and Long as caring and “pure individuals”. Long’s sister, Josie, called him an “amazing, kind and caring big brother”, while his grandmother, Bernadette Smith, said he would be “greatly missed”. Harry Hill described his elder brother Eddie as a “beloved son” and “the most amazing brother”, adding that he had “such big plans for his future”.
Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team chair Jurgen Dissmann said volunteers worked “long hours through the night in difficult weather” but were “deeply saddened” by the outcome. Community council clerk Heather Jones advised people to take extra care in the mountains and thanked the search teams for their dedication.
