A VERDICT of accidental death was recorded by the Herts coroner last week on an experienced snowboarder who plunged down a mountain to his death in March. Rob Williams, 29, died after he and his business partners and best friend Jason Tavaria became separ

A VERDICT of accidental death was recorded by the Herts coroner last week on an experienced snowboarder who plunged down a mountain to his death in March.

Rob Williams, 29, died after he and his business partners and best friend Jason Tavaria became separated from their party during a blizzard on the slopes of the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.

Mr Williams fell nearly 70ft down a cliff on to rocks below but the conditions meant a rescue helicopter could not be scrambled.

It was not until seven hours later that search teams on foot found his body by which time he had died in the freezing conditions

Mr Williams, whose address was given as Stowell Street, Liverpool, at last Wednesday's inquest, died of multiple traumatic injuries.

His parents live in St Albans and his father Peter described his son at the time of his death as, "twice the son you could ever hope for."

Mr Williams and Mr Tavaria, whose family still live in London Colney, had been friends since the age of 13 although they initially went to separate secondary schools in St Albans.

They both went on to Liverpool University where they launched the music equipment and instrument firm Dolphin Music which was ranked Britain's 11th fastest-growing company in 2007.

The two men were among a party of 30 young entrepreneurs who had flown to Switzerland on a working holiday when the accident happened.