Paraglider attempted jump despite 'too windy' warning

A paraglider died in the Lake District after attempting a jump despite other pilots suggesting it was "too windy", an inquest has heard.

Fabian Walch was believed to have launched from the summit of Robinson - a fell between Buttermere and Newlands Valley - on 1 June.

The 31-year-old, who was from Germany, was found dead the next day.

An inquest has been formally opened at Cockermouth Coroner's Court, with a full hearing set for 7 November.

Outlining the circumstances of the incident, coroner Robert Cohen said Mr Walch had arranged a jump but "the people he went with turned around and suggested it was too windy for the jump to take place".

He added: “Mr Walch went ahead with the jump nevertheless and was found the next day by friends of his.”

Volunteers from the Keswick, Cockermouth and Wasdale mountain rescue teams began a search for Mr Walch after a call was received the following morning.

At the time of Mr Walch's death, a spokesman for Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said a paraglider canopy had been spotted in a gill above Buttermere as volunteers were assembling.

A "complex recovery operation" was then launched to retrieve Mr Walch's body.

He was the second paraglider killed in the Lake District this year.

Experienced pilot Malcolm Grout, a 63-year-old retired teacher, died on 25 February.

An inquest opening the following month was told he had hit a cliff face on Blencathra.

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