Fundraising in memory of local mountaineer smashes target - as a national newspaper highlights the rescue team who came to his aid

A FUNDRAISING drive in memory of an Antrim man who died in a mountaineering accident has reached its target, eight months ahead of schedule.

The news comes as The Times newspaper published an in depth feature on the rescue team who came to the aid of William Onion and his friends when he fell from Snowdon.

Mr Onion (33), a former soldier with the Royal Corps of Signals who served in Afghanistan, had been living in Bournemouth with his partner Nichol where he ran a business bringing people together ‘through social group hikes, bootcamp fitness classes and personal training’.

He fell around 200 meters in Snowdonia on 11 November, at the same time as the two-minute Remembrance Day silence.

Mr Onion, originally from Muckamore, is survived by his parents Alastair and Julie, sister Amy, and his partner Nichol.

His service of thanksgiving in Wrays Funeral Church heard emotional tributes from friends from the forces, home and work, many remembering him by the nickname ‘Coach Pickles’.

Mourners were told that Mr Onion had ‘a genius for building life changing communities’ and that he died ‘doing what he loved’.

His partner told how they enjoyed running, paddle boarding, hiking and sea swimming and how his strength of character and drive meant he was constantly building for their future.

William’s job and love of hiking took him around the world, including to Everest base camp, and he often helped raise funds for charities.

After the funeral service, a piper led the cortege into Sixmile Cemetery for burial and the Last Post was played at the graveside by William’s cousin Louis Onion and poppies were dropped into the grave.

In November, hundreds took part in the March for Movember, a hike over the South West Coast Path in Dorset each November, in his memory.

Over 350 people took part, including family members of Mr Onion.

The walk was re-branded as the ‘March for Pickles’ and many people wore hats branded with the slogan as they trekked 21 miles from Lulworth to Swanage.

A month ago, a March for Pickles took place closer to home, along the Seven Mile Straight, Mill Race Trail, Riverside, where William grew up, and on to the Lough Shore.

It was one of a number of fundraising events carried out by ‘Team 83’, hoping to raise £11,000 by November 11 2024, which will be the first anniversary of William’s death, in aid of Llanberis Mountain Rescue, which helped recover his body following the tragedy.

Writing in the Times, Duncan Craig said that the team’s outgoings are north of £100,000, with kit and travel expenses two of the biggest costs.

The team receives a one-sixth share of the £10,000 designated by Welsh central government to the half-dozen teams in the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association.

He also told the story of 25-year-old Mollie Nye, who has been fundraising in memory of her friend and was there when he passed away.

“Armistice Day, November 11 last year, is a date Nye will never forget.” wrote Craig.

“Her six-person hiking group, who tackled mountain trails together nearly every weekend, were in Snowdonia to climb Crib Goch. If Snowdon is Alton Towers, Crib Goch is the scariest ride: a knife-edge arête (a sharp ridge) above the Pyg Track with a path little more than a metre wide in places and precipitous drops on each side.

“The former soldier and personal trainer Will Onion, 33, led the way, with Nye not far behind.

“She recalls hearing one of the team abruptly shout: “Nobody move!”

“He’d seen Onion fall and disappear from sight. They called down the mountainside and heard what they thought was their friend responding. It was an echo.

“What followed were the worst hours of Nye’s life. Onion had fallen 200 metres and had sustained injuries that, in medical parlance, were “incompatible with life”.

“But even in the midst of this appalling realisation, the skill, speed and professionalism of the Llanberis rescue team shone through. Nye, a student paramedic from Bournemouth, managed to clamber around and down with another hiker, by which time the Llanberis team were on the scene.

“The pair were airlifted to Nant Peris by a coastguard helicopter from nearby Caernarfon and spent more than three hours there while the team co-ordinated the rescue of their fellow hikers from Crib Goch, and the evacuation of Onion’s body, amid rising winds.

“I was a mess but they just knew exactly what needed to be done and also what to say,” says Nye, who is attempting to raise £11,000 for the team — the amount commemorating the date of her friend’s death.

“They didn’t try to lie to protect us. They kept us fully informed. In the worst time of our lives they were just lovely.”

“Nye and her group were not at fault for the incident.

“They did everything right,” said a member of the team, who was involved in the aftermath of the callout.

“It was purely mischance. It could happen to any of us.”

On her JustGiving page, Mollie Nye said: “Team 83 have set ourselves the challenge to raise awareness and vital funds for Llanberis Mountain Rescue.

“Many of you who knew Will, will know that he lost his life in the mountains whilst we were hiking along Crib Goch. It’s true what they say, you never think you will need to call for help… until it becomes your only option.

“Following the accident, a 999 call was made, and Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team were urgently deployed.

“A helicopter for immediate attendance to Will, and a foot team to make their way along the ridge to rescue and support the remaining five of us.

“Using all their resources to escort us to the safety vehicles on standby. This was all whilst we were coming to terms with the accident that had happened in front of us.

“Both land and air rescue support were very professional, reassuring and efficient throughout the entire day. Ensuring our safety, listening to us, keeping us calm, all while they carried out their rescue.

“To put this into context, the rescue consisted of two helicopters, two Land Rovers, foot teams, medical team and the numerous support personnel.

“Since the accident on 11/11, we have researched Llanberis Mountain Rescue, and how they operate.

“The team are all voluntary. They work 24/7, 365 days a year to ensure there is a team on standby, should people just like us need help in the mountains.

“During 2023 alone, Llanberis Mountain Rescue attended 308 callouts, with seven of these happening simultaneously within a 24-hour period.

“Not only do we appreciate the physical work of a rescue, but the mental strength required to attend call out, after call out after witnessing such tragic events. With over 50 active members, giving their time and resources including the dedication to ongoing training.

“With the assistance of IT support, equipment maintenance, welfare, finance and fundraising teams.

“Without these members, their rescue efforts would not be possible.

“We can’t help but think what we would have done on that tragic day, should this team not have been there to help us. That’s why we have decided to fundraise for them.

“Team 83 is going to participate in a continuous 100km Walk/Run in the Peak District in July this year.

“Other fundraising activities both solo, and team orientated will be ongoing throughout 2024.

“There could be a day in the future, a group of friends find themselves in a similar situation, and making sure the funds are there to enable this team to support them, is the least we can do to say Thank You.”

Already, the total is sitting at over £12,000.

To donate, log on to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mollie-nye3