A highly experienced and competent paraglider died when he lost control in turbulent air and crashed into a Lake District fell cliff after his canopy collapsed.
Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard today how witnesses reported seeing Malcolm Grout, 63, battling to control his equipment on February 25 near Threlkeld.
Retired school teacher Mr Grout, of Great Broughton, had been an avid walker and climber whose passions were overtaken later in life by a love of paragliding.
He became a respected pilot and instructor, supporting disabled people to enjoy the sport through charity Flyability.
He had hundreds if not thousands of personal air time to his name, meticulously recorded his outings in log books and was used to flying in different weather conditions.
On February 25 this year he was part of a group of paragliders flying on Carrock Fell, north of Blencathra. Initially Mr Grout took off from an area known as the trough at around 1pm but quickly reported he had landed to walk back.
Conditions improved and pilots, including Mr Grout, took off between 1.15pm and 1.25pm
Early in his flight, Mr Grout caught thermal air which allowed him to significantly gain altitude.
In his last radio communication to others, he reported getting quite a bit of sink on his way across Bannerdale Crags but described conditions as working well.
Others had since expressed reservations about the early season cross-country flight path he followed as he sought to exploit lift before descending to a Threlkeld landing area.
One of his two sons, Rob, told the court it was not the normal route to go straight-lining it over the ridges as his father had.
Mr Grout was seen flying close to Sharp Edge on Blencathra. It did not appear he intended to stay in a bowled area known for turbulence.
“He would have just been waiting for a thermal to pop off in a place that we know is a stupid place,” said Rob Grout. “He did regularly fly into places that a lot of people would have certainly hesitated. He fully understood what he was doing and the risks he was taking, and he was comfortable with that risk.”
People walking in the Sharp Edge area saw Mr Grout flying close by, one taking a photograph and a short video clip of him.
He was seen to suddenly elevate around 30ft to 40ft.
“I could see he was pulling on the (paraglider) handles,” said one bystander. “I could see that something wasn’t right. I could see that he was struggling to control it.”
Another witness described uncontrolled flips and rotations, and recalled: “It looked like the weather blew him sideways into the mountainside with a large bang.”
Mr Grout’s canopy collapsed, he suffered unsurvivable multiple injuries in a crash on Foule Crag and died instantly, his helmet being dislodged during impact.
After the alarm was raised, Keswick mountain rescue team members went to his aid with crews from an air ambulance and coastguard helicopter assisting.
A doctor was lowered to the area where Mr Grout had come to rest but there were no signs of life.
A British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association investigation found Mr Grout’s equipment was not a factor in the tragedy. There had been turbulent air, Mr Grout experienced an asymmetric collapse and this brought about a high speed collision.
Even if an emergency parachute had been fitted — it was not — successful deployment may not have been possible.
After hearing all evidence, area coroner for Cumbria Ms Kirsty Gomersal concluded that Mr Grout’s death was accidental.
Mr Grout, who was born in Birmingham and lived at Guisborough before moving to Cumbria, had been a friend to many, said Ms Gomersal.
The coroner, who also paid tribute to rescuers, added: “I have no doubt that he will be sorely missed, not just by his family but by the flying community.”
