Two young hikers found dead in mountain range in North Wales

Just one day after going missing in the North Wales mountains, the bodies of the two young men, aged 19 and 20, were located on Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon.

According to a press release from North Wales Police, worries about the men's safety in the Eyri mountains were communicated on Wednesday (February 18).

This prompted a concerted effort that included the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team, RAF Mountain Rescue Service, SARDA, and HM Coastguard. 

They engaged in thorough searches throughout the early Thursday hours.

North Wales Police stated in the release, “In a tragic development, the bodies of the two men were discovered and retrieved during these coordinated search operations.”

Although the statement confirmed the men's identities and notification of their families, the authorities withheld their names.

Nevertheless, The Guardian, the BBC, and ITV identified them as Eddie Hill, 20, and Jayden Long, 19, hailing from Norfolk, based on social media accounts by relatives and friends.

According to ITV, Hill’s brother Harry lamented him as a "wonderful big brother" and "treasured son" who "had great aspirations for his future."

"No words can capture the agony that my family and I are enduring at this moment. He was the most beautiful person inside and out, and we will greatly miss him,” said Hill, as per ITV.

Long’s sister, Josie, reflected on him as an “incredible, kind, and caring big brother,” who was “doing what he loved and was taken too suddenly," according to The Guardian.

Jurgen Dissmann, Chair of Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, extended sympathies to the victims' families in a statement issued with the police report.

“The team was deployed by North Wales Police, undertaking an exhaustive multi-agency operation in harsh, wintry conditions,” Dissmann remarked. “Volunteers scoured challenging mountainous territory in snow and ice, toiled long hours through the night amid adverse weather, striving to find the pair swiftly.”

"Despite the dedicated and ongoing efforts by all involved, we're heartbroken that, despite all endeavors, the result was not what we hoped for,” he added.

He wrapped up by expressing gratitude to the Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team, RAF Mountain Rescue Team, SARDA, and HM Coastguard for their support.