Barafundle Bay. Photo: Nigel Davies CC-BY-SA-2.0

Police have named a woman who died after a fall while climbing sea cliffs.

Louise Smithson was head of outdoor learning at the National Trust’s Stackpole centre in the Pembrokeshire Coast national park.

The 32-year-old, an experienced climber, died after she fell from a route in Barafundle Bay about 1.30pm on Sunday. Her partner, Paul Thorne, was with her and abseiled down to help her.

It is believed the pair had finished a route and she was on her way back down when she fell.

An officer was landed on the beach by the Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter and two of the crew of Tenby Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat joined him in trying to resuscitate Ms Smithson.

She was flown to Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest by an RAF Sea King helicopter but died of her injuries.

The death of the outdoor enthusiast, who was also a keen kayaker, was described by the National Trust’s Pembrokeshire general manager as ‘an absolute tragedy’.

Mr Thorne, also an experienced climber, suffered only minor injuries. The coroner has been informed.