The death of three people at a waterfall spot in Wales over an 18-month period has prompted a warning about the safety of the popular location.
Rachael Patching, 33, and Helen Patching, 52, drowned while visiting the Ystradfellte waterfalls in Powys in January 2023, while Corey Longdon, 26, died during a trip to the same location in June 2024, a joint inquest heard.
At Pontypridd Coroner’s Court on Thursday, assistant coroner Rachel Knight expressed concerns about the area’s “non-existent” phone signal and confusing signposting and called for additional safety measures to be put in place to prevent future deaths.
Located in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park – formerly the Brecon Beacons – the waterfalls form part of a scenic walking trail that attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The inquest heard the Patchings, a married couple from Kent who had travelled to Wales for a walking holiday, drowned at Sgwd y Pannwr after one of the women slipped and the other entered the water in a bid to save her.
Their bodies were discovered in the water by a member of the public, who alerted the emergency services.
A statement from Rachael’s family said the deaths had been “devastating to our family and friends” and insisted they do not want “another tragic accident at this location, leaving another family to face what we have been through”.
Mr Longdon had been walking the trail with his aunt, Lisa Lane, when it is believed he fell while trying to find a shortcut to the waterfall, the inquest heard.
Ms Lane said in a statement that she heard a “loud splash” and “someone screaming for help” after her nephew disappeared from view.
Mr Longdon, from Gloucester, was airlifted to hospital but had suffered “unsurvivable” injuries.
The families of Rachael and Mr Longdon have both raised concerns about insufficient warning signs at the waterfall.
However, chief executive of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Catherine Mealing-Jones, said she was “satisfied” that the trail’s most common access points have adequate signage and warned that other measures, such as lifebuoy rings, could cause additional dangers in the water or encourage people to swim.
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Samuel Jones, representing Natural Resources Wales, said there had been “significant investment, new routes and fencing” put in place near the site of Mr Longdon’s fall in an effort to improve safety.
Mr Jones said: “These organisations do take their responsibilities very seriously and they have to balance their responsibilities with the need to preserve the environment in these locations.
“The ultimate reality of a place like this is that people can go where they choose to go and understand the risk in doing so.”
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Ms Knight claimed the paths are not clearly explained for those with minimal hiking experience, and that signs informing people of closures are in “suboptimal positions”.
She added: “I am concerned that the phone signal is poor to non-existent at many of the busiest and most remote locations, where most serious incidents occur.
“A solution to this issue should be considered.”
