Inquest told of fell death woman’s bid to save her family

Last updated 19:25, Thursday, 20 November 2008

A WOMAN fell 200 feet to her death on Blencathra as she tried to save her husband and their six-year-old daughter, an inquest heard.

Emma Anderson, 38, died on August 29 while out walking on Sharp Edge with her husband Graham and daughter Sarah.

A inquest into her death, held in Kendal, heard that the family fell down a gully after slipping from the path at a height of 2,000 feet. The conditions were described as “wet and slippery”.

Mr Anderson, 48, from Peterborough, told the court that he believed his wife’s natural instinct was to reach out and grab him to stop him falling.

Although Mr Anderson and his daughter came to a stop, Mrs Anderson continued to drop and sustained fatal head injuries.

The inquest heard from two walkers who were in front of the family, but who had turned back when they reached the point where Mrs Anderson fell.

The incident sparked a rescue operation, involving two Sea King helicopters. Mr Anderson and Sarah were taken to safety.

Mrs Anderson was later taken off the mountain to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, where she was pronounced dead.

Coroner Ian Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death and said that Mr Anderson was a well-equipped fell walker who made a calculated decision and should not be condemned.