Mr Prescott was one of two men who died on the Pen y Fan range. Photo: Herby CC-BY-SA-3.0

Mr Prescott was one of two men who died on the Pen y Fan range. Photo: Herby CC-BY-SA-3.0

Police have named one of the men killed by lightning strikes on the Brecon Beacons on Sunday.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award leader Jez Prescott was one of two men who died on south Wales’s highest mountains in separate incidents in electrical storms.

The 51-year-old from Telford, Shropshire, was airlifted from the hill to Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil after being treated by members of the public and mountain rescue teams, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The lightning struck Corn Du and Cribyn, neighbouring peaks of the range’s highest mountain Pen y Fan.

A Telford and Wrekin Council spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness that the council can confirm the tragic death of our colleague Jez Prescott on Sunday.

“Our thoughts are with Jez’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.

“Jez was a part-time youth and community worker in our youth innovation team and had worked with the council since 2001 when he joined as a youth volunteer worker.

“He was a very dedicated individual who gave his time to help young people in the borough achieve their full potential and was a trained Duke of Edinburgh’s Award support worker.

“It was in this role that Jez was a team leader for a D of E expedition on the Brecon Beacons when he was fatally struck by lightning in a sudden storm at a checkpoint on the group’s route.

“The council is considering appropriate ways it can pay tribute to Jez, his work and the part he has played in supporting young people in our borough.”

One other man, who has not been named, was killed during the storm and two others were taken to hospital. One has since been discharged and one transferred to the burns unit at Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

South Wales’s four mountain rescue teams, some of which had just suspended their training exercise during the storm, took part in the rescue operation, along with an RAF Sea King helicopter from RMB Chivenor in Devon.

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