A man died after falling on Blencathra while attempting to tackle the well known Sharp Edge scrambling route with his son, an inquest was told.
At Cockermouth Coroners’ Court this morning, an inquest was formally opened into the death of Peter Malcolm Brien, 70.
Brief circumstances of a tragedy which occurred on January 2 were given by Dr Nicholas Shaw, assistant coroner for Cumbria.
“Peter was climbing Blencathra with his son and they were going up Sharp Edge,” said Dr Shaw.
“It appears that they took slightly different routes and unfortunately, while trying to find the correct route — or the ideal one — Peter slipped and he fell a considerable distance down the mountainside. He was pronounced deceased.”
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team members responded to what was their first incident of 2025. A spokesman said in the aftermath that team members had recovered a body which was then airlifted to their rescue base by a Great North Air Ambulance Service crew.
Mr Brien, who was from Belper in Derbyshire, is reported to have fallen around 230ft.
Formal evidence had been provided to the coroners’ court by Mr Brien’s son.
Dr Shaw concluded that an inquest would be required. He adjourned today’s proceedings to a provisional full hearing date of June 12 2025.
