An investigation is underway after a 15-year-old Scout was killed in a rock fall on a mountainside in Snowdonia.

James Chambers, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, was airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor after the accident on Sunday, but died shortly afterwards.

The incident happened as he was climbing and abseiling under instruction with other Scouts onTryfan Bach in the Ogwen Valley.

A 26-year-old Scout leader who was in charge of the group and another climber who went to the injured boy's aid were also taken to hospital with leg injuries when they were injured in a second rock fall.

'Devastated'

Both suffered minor injuries and the rock fall caused further injuries to the teenager.

Twenty Five members of the Ogwen Valley mountain rescue team and 22 Squadron RAF Valley assisted with the evacuation to hospital in Bangor.

The group of nine boys who were aged 12 to 15 and from Birkenhead, had five adult instructors with them.

The Scout leaders and other teenagers in the party were said to be in shock and "devastated" after the accident.

'Properly equipped'

John Fogg of the Scout Association said a rock had dislodged and struck James.

Just as rescuers arrived at the scene the second rock fall happened.

The Scout leader who was injured had thrown himself across the boy, but was unable to prevent more injuries to both of them.

James was still conscious during the rescue operation but died soon after reaching hospital.

He was one of a group from the 26th Birkenhead troop who had been staying in Llanberis for a training weekend.

Mr Fogg said the party had been properly equipped and properly led.

'Totally unpredictable'

Three of the leaders with the party held qualifications to supervise the climbing activities in which the boys were taking part and the leader was the Scouts' mountain adviser for the area.

James would have been wearing a climbing helmet while taking part in the climb.

"Mountain rescuers have told us that in their experience it is unknown for there to be a fall of rock in this area," said Mr Fogg.

"They use this area for their own training. It looks as though this was a tragic accident that was totally unpredictable and unforeseeable.

"It will affect the whole of the Scout movement and of course our thoughts are with James's family."

The Scout Association would hold an internal inquiry into the circumstances of the accident, he said.

James's parents travelled to North Wales from their home in Birkenhead as soon as they learned of the accident.