British climber killed in Yosemite National Park accident

Felix Joseph Kiernan from London was hit by a rock 600 ft into a climbing route

Felix Joseph Kiernan was killed during a climbing trip at California's Yosemite National Park (AFP/Getty Images)

A British man has died in a rock climbing accident in Yosemite National Park in the US.

Felix Joseph Kiernan, 28, from London, was climbing on the East Buttress of El Capitan, a popular climbing route in Yosemite Valley, when he was struck by a rock at around 2pm (local time) on Sunday, the National Park Service said.

Mr Kiernan was about 600 feet (180m) up the climbing route when a loose block was dislodged by his climbing partner.

The block, estimated to be one foot (0.3m) by two feet (0.6m), fell approximately 150 feet (45m) before striking Mr Kiernan and causing fatal injuries, according to the National Park Service.

A party climbing just below Mr Kiernan immediately called the Yosemite Emergency Communication Centre and reported the incident.

Yosemite Park Rangers and Yosemite Search and Rescue workers were sent to El Capitan where they began climbing the route to reach the climbers.

Park Rangers reached Mr Kiernan around 4pm and he was pronounced dead.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national and we are providing consular assistance to the family."

PA