Tributes have been paid to a dad-of-three who was found dead at the foot of a popular climbing spot on Father’s Day.

The 48-year-old Sussex man was climbing South Stack in Wales when he went missing on Saturday.

A search-and-rescue operation was launched but his body – along with that of a 21- year-old from Hampshire – was found in the sea the following morning.

The 21-year-old victim is also believed to be a former pupil at the school who had gone on to study at the University of Sussex.

The news has been filtering through to students at Christ’s Hospital School near Horsham where the father worked.

The 48-year-old was also said to be an experienced climber and led school expeditions.

He was understood to be married to a teacher at the school and was a former pupil.

Lami Oduwole, whose son he taught, paid tribute last night.

She said: “He was just a wonderful man. He was my son’s house master and was so good to him.

“They are all really upset at the school.

“Everyone at the school is just in shock. The students have been told that they can have a couple of days off and the school is making sure that everything is in place for them.”

Alarm

The house master was in Holyhead on the island of Anglesey to climb the South Stacks.

The pair set off on Saturday afternoon.

They had planned to meet up with two fellow climbers but when they didn’t arrive, their companions raised the alarm and a search and rescue operation was launched.

Lifeboats, a coastguard team and a Sea King helicopter searched the area into the early hours before calling off the rescue effort at 1am.

When the search was resumed on Sunday morning the two bodies were found in the water at the foot of the cliffs.

The climbing deaths are the second incident to rock the school in four years. In 2009, shortly after graduating, former pupils James Atkinson and Rob Gauntlett, both 21, died after falling through ice while climbing in Chamonix in the Alps.

 

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