A freelance mountain leader died in a fall while tackling the gruelling Bob Graham Round with a friend.
Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard this morning how Robert Thomas, 58, had begun the epic Lakes peak challenge with Mark Wyndham-Brightwell at around 4am on Tuesday, August 6.
The Bob Graham Round is a 66-mile 27,000ft circuit of the 42 highest Lake District fells, which competitors aim to complete within 24 hours. This was first done by Keswick hotelier Bob Graham in 1932.
Area coroner for Cumbria Kirsty Gomersal, said of the attempt by Mr Thomas and Mr Wyndham-Brightwell on August 6: “Later on that evening, at about 10.30pm, the pair were navigating at Pillar when Mr Thomas slipped and fell, falling to a vertical ledge.
“Mr Wyndham-Brightwell called for assistance but Mr Thomas’s death was pronounced by the mountain rescue team the next morning, on August 7, at 2.27am.”
A post mortem examination had been carried out, with Ms Gomersal offered a cause of death consistent with the circumstances of Mr Thomas’s fall: multiple injuries.
“Given the cause and circumstances of Mr Thomas’s death I am satisfied that an inquest is required,” said the coroner. “It goes without saying that Mr Thomas’s family and friends have my deepest condolences on his passing.”
Mr Thomas, the inquest heard, was married, had latterly lived in Hereford and worked as a freelance mountain leader.
The inquest was adjourned by Ms Gomersal to a provisional conclusion date of January 21 2025.
Mountain rescue volunteers from the Cockermouth and Wasdale teams had gone to Mr Thomas’s aid.
