Campaigner's microlight crash death was 'accident'

A coroner has ruled the death of a campaigner who died from injuries sustained in a microlight crash during a filming project for an Apple headset was an accident.

Claire Lomas began fundraising after a horse riding accident left her paralysed, with her efforts including completing the 2012 London Marathon in a "bionic" suit.

Louise Pinder, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire said Lomas was flying an adapted microlight in Jordan on 15 July 2024 when she made a "spilt second decision to abort the landing" as the aircraft was not "perfectly aligned".

The inquest heard the microlight collided with rocks and she died from her injuries on 22 August 2024 at a hospital in Amman.

The inquest, which was held at County Hall, heard Lomas - from Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire - was in Jordan to take part in an Apple-commissioned series called Adventure, which involved filming athletes in "spectacular" locations.

On 15 July 2024 Lomas was being filmed flying her adapted microlight in Petra - when after a "wonderful flight", it became apparent during the final approach to the runway the aircraft was "not quite lined up", the inquest heard.

Pinder said: "Claire decided to abort the landing and go around and applied full power but the aircraft touched down firmly, veered to the left, [with] the left wheel leaving the road onto gravel, causing her to further lose control.

"The aircraft collided with rocks approximately ten metres from the metalled road surface, as a result of which she sustained multiple traumatic injuries."

Giving her findings of fact, the coroner said the family had raised concerns about the medical care in the hospital but there was "insufficient evidence" to determine whether there were any "missed opportunities" to treat Lomas.

The inquest was previously told Lomas's condition improved at the King Hussein Medical Centre before she had a "sudden deterioration" and died on 22 August 2024.

The coroner concluded the medical cause of death was multiple severe traumatic injuries.

Pinder offered her condolences to the family and said she hoped they would be "reassured" there had been "thorough investigations" into the circumstances of Lomas's death and "some lessons have been learnt".

Speaking after the inquest Katherine Allen, representing the family of Claire Lomas said the completion of the inquest marked the end of a "very difficult and emotional process" for the family.

"Whilst the inquest has now concluded the family continue to live with the devastating consequences of their loss.

"Claire was deeply loved and her death has left a profound and enduring void in their lives. They will never be the same following what happened to her.

"However, they remain focused on remembering Claire and the important place she will always hold in their lives.

"Claire was funny, hugely determined and always intent on living the best life she could," Allen added.

Lomas was told she would never walk again after she was thrown from her horse at the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire in 2007, but a suit with mechanical legs, called ReWalk, helped her to take her first steps again at a rehabilitation centre in East Yorkshire five years later.

The suit used braces to support the legs, motors to help rotate joints, weight and motion sensors and a battery pack.

Feet sensors detected when weight was lifted, motion sensors detected hip movement and upper-body sensors helped control movement.

Lomas was the first person in the UK to use the ReWalk suit and wore it to complete the 2012 London Marathon in 17 days.

She used it again to complete the Great North Run in 2016, earning the nickname "bionic woman" for her achievements.

Lomas was also selected to light the Paralympic flame in 2012 and was appointed MBE in 2017 for her fundraising efforts.

Before her death Lomas raised £925,000 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation - a charity committed to funding research into curing spinal cord injury.

Her husband Dan Spincer and best friend Stuart Hall took the total she raised for charity past £1m - and vowed to continue raising money in her memory.

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