Avid mountaineer had heart attack on Mweelrea Mountain, inquest told

A dedicated mountaineer, who had conquered Africa’s Mount Kiliminjaro and all the mountains of Scotland, collapsed and died on Mweelrea, Connacht’s highest summit, despite the efforts of his daughter to save him.

Christopher Quinn (63), an aircraft engineer, who resided at Hampton Court, Clontarf, Dublin, was accompanied by his daughter, Emma, on an expedition up the 814 metre high mountain on September 4 last.

Emma told an inquest into her father’s death in Castlebar today her father was “an avid climber” and “a fit man.

After staying overnight in Clifden they started the climb.

“Dad was in good form chatting,” she recounted.

“We were about three hours in and took a bit of rest. Dad said he had a bit of indigestion. I asked him had he a pain in his arm or anything and he said ‘no’.

“We carried on for about five minutes when he said he really wasn’t feeling well and needed to go down. I asked if I needed to get help but he said no that we just needed to get off the mountain.

“He took five steps and he fell back and collapsed. He called my name. I believe he took his last breath there.

“I called 999 and they advised me to do compressions and CPR. I did that for about 40 minutes.

“The helicopter came in during that time but they could not land as the rain and wind had come in and it was too bad."

Members of the Mountain Rescue Team arrived later.

The cause of Mr. Quinn’s death was outlined to the inquest by Dr. Tamas Nemeth, consultant pathologist, as cardiogenic shock due to (or as a consequence of) coronary sclerosis accompanied by physical exertion.

After recording a verdict of death from natural causes, the Coroner for Mayo, Patrick O’Connor, recommended that all those engaging in physical activity – particularly extreme exercise – have regular health check-ups, particularly when they are beyond the 50 age mark.

Mr. O’Connor remarked it was particularly appropriate that Mr. Quinn had died while climbing a mountain as he was an avid climber.

He expressed sympathy with the deceased’s wife and family noting that it had been particularly distressing for Emma to see her father passing away beside her.

Finally, the coroner commended the gardai (Garda Colm Boyle and Sergeant Noel Crinnegan) and members of Mayo Mountain Rescue for their roles in the operation to bring the body to the base of the mountain.

The coroner’s commendations for the mountain rescue volunteers was echoed by Sergeant Margaret O’Connor, on behalf of An Garda Siochana.

* Pictured is the Coroner for Mayo, Pat O'Connor.