Pen y Fan death: Man dies during endurance event at Brecon Beacons
A 68-year-old man died tragically while competing in a grueling endurance challenge on South Wales’ highest peak, Pen y Fan.
Emergency services were called to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, formerly known as the Brecon Beacons, at around 11am on Saturday.
The man was attending the Fan Dance, an event organized by Avalanche Endurance Events (AEE).
Mirroring the Special Forces selection process, this grueling race requires participants to navigate a 15-mile (24 km) course along and around the 2,907 ft (886 m) summit, carrying a 35 lb (16 kg) pack.
AEE says it welcomes individuals from “all walks of life” to participate.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a call about welfare concerns for a male in Pen y Fan, Brecon, at around 11am on Saturday 4 July.
“Officers attended as well as Mountain Rescue and Ambulance Service.
“Unfortunately, the 68-year-old man passed away.
“His relatives were informed and his death is not considered suspicious.
“HM Coroner has been notified and officers will continue to assist them with their investigation.”
AEE founder Ken Jones said in a statement on Tuesday: “This message is to share the news that AEE encountered a fatality during the Fan Dance Race Series event on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
“Our focus and thoughts are with the family at this time, so neither AEE nor I as the walk director will be issuing any further press release until the family has received the full timeline of events and confirmed follow-up messages.
“Our team is working on this at the time of this post.
“I would like to thank the Air Ambulance Service, the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team and the AEE Mountain Safety Team for their rapid response and professionalism.
“We would also like to thank the event patrons, whose professional response also helped manage this challenging, important event.”
