The inquest yesterday into the death of a 34-year-old South African woman who was climbing Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo, heard she died from heart failure.
The inquest at Westport into Ms Tracy Dicks, Delphi Lodge, Leenane, Co Galway, was conducted by Mr John O'Dwyer, coroner for south Mayo.
Ms Dicks had been general manager and secretary at Delphi Lodge in Connemara for four years.
She had been climbing the mountain (2,510 feet) with her boyfriend, Mr Peter Coyne, of Glan, Leenane, Co Galway, on July 27th, National Pilgrimage Day, when she became ill and rested.
Mr Coyne told yesterday's hearing that Ms Dicks went no further than the first station on the mountain because she "was not fit to make it".
He added: "She waited at the first station and the first camp. She told me to carry on and she would wait there. When I came down I could not see her".
Mr Coyne said he was later told by Mountain Rescue what had happened.
His girlfriend had no medical history.Garda James Corrigan said he got the call at 2.05 p.m from Westport Order of Malta that a lady had died on the Reek.
The body was stretchered to the base of the mountain and brought by ambulance to Mayo General Hospital.
Questioned by the coroner, Garda Corrigan said he advised climbers to wear proper clothing when climbing the mountain and not to climb alone.
He also said that on average there was one fatality on the slopes per year and on Pilgrimage Sunday as many as 20-30 people get injured on the mountain.
Medical evidence was given to the inquest that Ms Dicks died from heart failure induced by an attack of severe, acute, ischemia.
Dr Iqdam Tobbia, Consultant Pathologist at Mayo General Hospital, said there may have been a history of heart disease in the victim's family even though her parents were still alive.
The coroner, Mr O'Dwyer, returned a verdict of death from natural causes.