A KEEN bird watcher and ex-mountain leader died after plunging 80ft off a cliff.
Vincent Pinnington, 82, died after slipping on the Great Orme in Llandudno.
He had set out to photograph a
peregrine falcon when he had slipped in tall grass, an inquest heard. His body was recovered later by an RAF Sea King helicopter following a search by various parties in May 8.
His niece, Karin Owen of Colwyn Bay said: “People were very shocked at his death and we are obviously very sad. He loved the spring and summer.”
Former colleague Charles Crapper paid tribute to his friend of 30 years. He said: “He lived a full life to the very end, doing things he loved. He was a very confident person, perhaps over confident. But he was always careful. ”
Dr Mark Lord, pathologist at Ysbyty Gwynedd recorded his death as caused by multiple injuries due to the fall.
Mr Pinnington, originally from Lancaster, had travelled the world four times before the age of 24 and had lived and worked in Malaysia. He married Joan Pinnington in 1962 and had worked as a DHSS investigator. He was also a mountain leader and landscape photographer. His wife currently resides in a care home.
Acting coroner, John Gittins recorded a verdict of accidental death.
How sad, just shows the length a birder will go for that ultimate shot! 
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