Coroner apologises for parachutist's inquest delay

The coroner apologised for the delay at Crook Coroner's Court

A coroner has apologised for a delay in finalising an inquest for a videographer who died during a parachute jump while he filmed another skydiver.

Sam Cornwell, 46, from Hampshire, was skydiving near Shotton airfield, in County Durham, in April 2024 when his main parachute failed to open properly.

At a hearing at Crook Civic Centre, coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said a pre-inquest review would be needed to decide on a legal matter regarding disclosure of evidence.

He acknowledged "a long time had passed" since Mr Cornwell's death but explained the disclosure issue, about whether a report could be shared with local authority investigators, needed to be resolved.

Leni Boudewijn, who is the mother of Mr Cornwell's children, asked via a videolink for clarification on the need for the delay.

The coroner said: "I am very aware that Sam's death was in April 2024.

"A long time has passed and I regret it has not been possible to provide closure before now, but it is necessary to do things properly."

The coroner had previously heard from Jan Bostock, a senior environmental health officer with Durham County Council, who said Mr Cornwell's equipment, including his altimeter and GoPro camera footage, would be independently checked.

He suffered critical injuries on 28 April, and was pronounced dead at South West Industrial Estate, near Peterlee.

The pre-inquest review will be held on 6 January.