A DOLGELLAU man who tragically lost his life as result of a seaside prank has been remembered 11 years after his death.

Dafydd Williams, a popular 22-year-old, died after vaulting the railings on Aberystwyth promenade in April 2005, catching his leg and subsequently hitting his head on the concrete below.

He died at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff three days later of serious head injuries.

Following Dafydd’s death, a memorial chair and plaque was erected in his honour on Dolgellau’s Marian Mawr playing fields, next to the rugby and cricket pitch where he had spent so much of his time.

However, a decade later the bench had fallen into disrepair.

Dafydd’s friend and teammate Alun Jones became aware that the bench had dilapidated and took it upon himself to raise money to replace the seat as well as support another charity.

In order to raise the necessary funds, Alun ran the Cardiff Half-Marathon and raised nearly £1,000 in the process.

Alun, who completed the run in three hours and five minutes, said it was “the hardest challenge of [his] life” but it was also the most worthwhile as it was in memory of his friend and teammate.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News