An IT consultant whose body was found during an massive search after he went missing in the Lake District died from a head injury, an inquest has heard.
Police launched a public appeal for information and mountain rescue team volunteers began searches, early on Thursday May 9, after concerns were raised for 60-year-old Richard Andrew Lucas.
Mr Lucas had earlier been reported missing having failing to make contact after a lone walk from Seathwaite towards Scafell Pike.
Rescuers from the Wasdale, Keswick, Duddon and Furness, and Langdale and Ambleside mountain rescue teams made early morning searches.
The search lasted almost 40 hours, with a second wave of rescuers using search dogs and drones. A Coastguard helicopter was also sweeping the area.
However, Mr Lucas was found dead the following day.
“They have my deepest sympathies on the passing of their loved one,” said area coroner Kirsty Gomersal in reference to Mr Lucas’ family as an inquest was formally opened at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court this morning.
“His body was discovered on May 10 of this year at about 10.35am on Scafell Pike by search and rescue with multiple injuries.”
Mr Lucas was pronounced dead at 12.20pm by a doctor with his wife, Diane, later confirming his identify at Whitehaven’s West Cumberland Hospital.
“A post mortem examination has been carried out. I am offered a cause of death as a head injury which is a provisional cause of death,” said Ms Gomersal. “Given the cause and circumstances of Mr Lucas’s death I am satisfied that an inquest is required.”
The hearing was adjourned to a provisional date of October 24 this year.
The coroner noted that Mr Lucas — a married father, son, brother and uncle — had been born in Huddersfield. Latterly he lived in nearby Mirfield, and had worked as an IT consultant.
His family asked for donations in his memory to be made to Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.
