British Hiker Tom Howard Killed by Boulder on Himalayan Trek

Tom Howard, a 27-year-old British data analyst, tragically died after being struck by a falling boulder while hiking the Triund Trek in India on February 16. Hiking alongside his friend Robert Emerton, Howard was injured on a challenging, snow-covered route when the boulder hit him in the chest, causing him to collapse. Emerton attempted to seek help but faced treacherous conditions, including scaling cliffs and navigating waterfalls, delaying rescue efforts. Despite returning with local assistance and rescuers arriving later, Howard could not be revived and was pronounced dead the following day. An inquest ruled his death accidental, attributing it to shock from blunt force trauma, with a provisional post-mortem confirming a fractured skull. The coroner noted the difficulties of the rescue operation due to the hazardous terrain and lack of communication.