Dad says challenge too hard

9:36am Friday 14th December 2001

THE father of teenager Amy Ransom, who fell to her death down a mountain slope during a school trek in Vietnam, believes the climb was 'a challenge too far'.

Wycombe High School pupil, Amy, 17, of Bryants Bottom Road, Hughenden Valley, plunged off a ridge on July 31 after losing her grip on a tree on an aborted attempt to conquer Mount Fan-si-pan.

A High Wycombe inquest into Amy's death on Monday recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Army officer Richard Lloyd told Buckinghamhsire Coroner Richard Hulett that he decided the eight-strong sixth-form group should turn back after conditions became too treacherous.

But Amy's dad, Derek, said he thought the fatal climb had proved a challenge too far. He said: "I think they [the expedition] got into a more risky situation then they should've done. I think they got themselves into an area that was too technically difficult for them.

"I just think the challenge part of this needs more risk assessment and more thought. This was bound to happen at some time on one of these challenges."

Mr Lloyd, team leader for London-based company World Challenge Expeditions, told the inquest, some of the girls were "looking a bit tired" and "nervous" on the way up to a mountain camp. He led the group back down to a spot where they could use a small tree as a hand-pull to swing them down to lower ground.

Mr Lloyd explained: "She [Amy] did look slightly nervous. As she swung round she let go of the tree and back-flipped at great speed down that slope."

Mr Lloyd, who struggled in vain to grab and save Amy, added: "She literally somersaulted backwards. It took me completely by surprise."

A post-mortem examination of Amy revealed severe head injuries consistent with a fall.

In a statement, Charles Rigby, executive chairman for World Challenge Expeditions, said: "Our internal investigation demonstrates that our safety and back-up procedures are of very high standards and Her Majesty's coroner's officer has confirmed our findings that Amy's death was a tragic accident."

Buckinghamshire County Council is currently completing an internal review to establish whether its current policy for educational trips needs to be changed.