AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a fell runner who slipped off a vertical ledge in Wasdale while attempting the Bob Graham round.
Robert Thomas, 58, was running with his friend, Mark Windham-Brightwell, close to the summit of Pillar, on August 6, 2024, when he slipped and fell at around 10.30pm.
Area Coroner for Cumbria, Ms Kirsty Gomersal, said that Mr Windham-Brightwell heard calls for assistance.
Mr Thomas, from Herefordshire, was pronounced dead by mountain rescue teams at 2.27am.
As reported at the time, Mr Thomas had slipped and fallen into Pillar Cove as the pair made their way down from Pillar summit to Kirk Fell.
Mr Windham-Brightwell called the police, leading to Cockermouth and Wasdale Mountain Rescue Teams attempting an arduous rescue operation on foot, eventually finding Mr Thomas, and reaching the valley floor at around 6.30am.
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