Family remember ‘kind and witty’ teen who plunged to his death from Great Orme cliffs in Wales
TRIBUTES have been paid to a “kind and witty” teenager from Stockport who died after falling from cliffs in north Wales.
Ben Leonard, 17, was killed on Sunday when he plunged from the Great Orme headland at Llandudno.
Coastguards and paramedics had tried in vain to revive him.
He was the second to have died this year close to Marine Drive, the scenic route which circles the Orme.
Jackie and Dave Leonard said in a statement: “Our whole family is totally devastated by the loss of our Ben.
"He was kind, caring, witty and a wonderful lad and we will miss him terribly."
Police and the Coastguard were scrambled at about 2pm to reports a boy had plummeted from cliffs.
Sadly the teenager couldn't be saved and the coroner and cops are now working together to establish how he died.
A spokesman for Llandudno Coastguard said: “Arriving on scene it was clear our rope rescue skills would not be required, however, we needed to assist with casualty care.
“The team assisted the ambulance paramedic and [air ambulance crews] with casualty care but despite our best efforts we were unable to resuscitate him and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”
It comes after a 16-year-old boy died after plummeting from a mountain during a hike in the Scottish Highlands.
Timothy Murray plunged to his death while climbing Stac Pollaidh near Ullapool on Sunday afternoon.
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