Reading uni professor Alexei Likhtman dies after 50ft plunge onto rocks during US hike

Hiking tragedy: Alexei Likhtman
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Ramzy Alwakeel13 October 2015

A physics professor from Reading has died after falling 50ft off a cliff and hitting rocks on a hike in north America.

Alexei Likhtman, 44, is believed to have lost his balance while taking photographs while walking the Appalachian Trail in Maryland.

He fell from a cliff and hit rocks below. Despite other hikers’ attempts to save him he died an hour later.

A University of Reading spokeswoman said today: “It is with regret that we can confirm the tragic death of Professor Alexei Likhtman, professor of mathematical physics at the University of Reading. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

"Professor Likhtman was a highly valued, well-loved member of staff who had been due to attend a conference in Baltimore before the accident occurred.

"The university was informed of his unfortunate death last night and is liaising with the authorities in the US. We are providing support to staff and students and will be saying more as soon as we can."

Former students took to Twitter to talk of their shock.

Richard Blythe (‏@DrAlgernon) wrote: “Sad news about Alexei Likhtman, polymer theorist whom I remember for lively interjections during seminars.”

A spokesman for Maryland Natural Resources Police said Prof Likhtman had been “jumping from rock to rock” when he tripped.

Physics expert: Prof Alexei Likhtman University of Reading
University of Reading

He was in the US to attend a conference in Baltimore and had been visiting a section of the long-distance hiking trail called Annapolis Rock with a PhD student, named as Jian Zhu, also from Reading.

Lt Art Windemuth said: “At about 10.45am the victim was photographing the area and tripped and fell between 40 and 50ft.

“People in the area immediately began first aid and called 911. Emergency personnel arrived and immediately began first aid, but the victim was pronounced deceased about noon.

“He was with a student of his and was taking photographs. He had a tripod with a camera on it, the camera fell and he fell. He was jumping from rock to rock when he tripped.”

Next of kin have been informed.

Originally from Moscow, Prof Likhtman moved to the UK to study and lecture. He worked at the University of Leeds between 1999 and 2007 before taking up the post of professor of mathematical physics at the University of Reading.

The 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail was brought to the attention of a new audience in the Bill Bryson book A Walk In The Woods, recently adapted into a film starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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