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Lightning strikes killed Brecon Beacon walkers, inquest rules Lightning strikes killed Brecon Beacon walkers, inquest rules
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Hillwalkers have described how separate lightning strikes killed two men on neighbouring peaks within a few minutes during a sudden summer storm.Hillwalkers have described how separate lightning strikes killed two men on neighbouring peaks within a few minutes during a sudden summer storm.
One hiker, who was also struck but survived, told an inquest into the deaths that he felt his body was on fire, while others told how the mountains were suddenly lit up by bright white light and that there was a “deafening whip-crack sound”.One hiker, who was also struck but survived, told an inquest into the deaths that he felt his body was on fire, while others told how the mountains were suddenly lit up by bright white light and that there was a “deafening whip-crack sound”.
Robin Meakings, 59, a retired teacher, and 51-year-old Jeremy Prescott, a youth worker, were walking in the Brecon Beacons in south Wales in July and had ended up on adjacent mountain tops, circa a mile apart, when the storm broke. Robin Meakings, 59, a retired teacher, and Jeremy Prescott, 51, a youth worker, were walking in the Brecon Beacons in south Wales in July and were on adjacent mountain tops, circa a mile apart, when the storm broke.
William Belcher, 46, who had climbed a mountain called Cribyn with Meakings and Nicholas Earl, said his two friends were tinkering with walking poles when they were struck.William Belcher, 46, who had climbed a mountain called Cribyn with Meakings and Nicholas Earl, said his two friends were tinkering with walking poles when they were struck.
Belcher said: “All of a sudden there was this bright white flash and an intensely loud, deafening whip-crack sound. I could then smell something like burnt leather or bacon. Nic went flying forwards while Robin was motionless on his back. I was panicking, shouting at both of them: ‘Wake up, wake up.’ Belcher said: “All of a sudden, there was this bright white flash and an intensely loud, deafening whip-crack sound. I could then smell something like burnt leather or bacon. Nic went flying forwards while Robin was motionless on his back. I was panicking, shouting at both of them: ‘Wake up, wake up.’
“The force of the strike had blown his [Meakings’s] jacket open and there was discolouration of his chest. At that moment I knew he had gone.” “The force of the strike had blown his [Meakings’s] jacket open and there was discolouration of his chest. At that moment, I knew he had gone.”
Belcher said the three friends had talked of going shopping in Brecon before deciding to go for a walk instead. Belcher said the three friends had talked of going shopping in Brecon before deciding to go for a walk instead. He said: “On the day, we didn’t have any specific discussions about the weather, but we had done this sort of thing millions of times before so we were feeling pretty confident.”
He said: “On the day, we didn’t have any specific discussions about the weather, but we had done this sort of thing millions of times before so we were feeling pretty confident.”
Though Earl was paralysed on one side of his body, he helped Belcher try to save their friend, but as they waited for a rescue helicopter, Belcher put his hand on Earl’s shoulder and told him: “I think we lost Robin.”Though Earl was paralysed on one side of his body, he helped Belcher try to save their friend, but as they waited for a rescue helicopter, Belcher put his hand on Earl’s shoulder and told him: “I think we lost Robin.”
Belcher said he still struggled psychologically and was often plagued by thoughts of “what if”. He said: “I just keep thinking what if we had instead gone shopping that day … or if I had been standing where Robin was – that could have been me – I would have lost my little family and never seen them again.”Belcher said he still struggled psychologically and was often plagued by thoughts of “what if”. He said: “I just keep thinking what if we had instead gone shopping that day … or if I had been standing where Robin was – that could have been me – I would have lost my little family and never seen them again.”
Earl told the inquest in Brecon he had “never felt pain like it before” when he was hit. “It was like my body inside and out was on fire. I couldn’t move … I couldn’t speak.” Earl still has painful scars across his body as well as a weakened arm and regularly suffers memory loss.Earl told the inquest in Brecon he had “never felt pain like it before” when he was hit. “It was like my body inside and out was on fire. I couldn’t move … I couldn’t speak.” Earl still has painful scars across his body as well as a weakened arm and regularly suffers memory loss.
Prescott, meanwhile, was on the way up the nearby Corn Du peak to meet a group of young people on a Duke of Edinburgh scheme expedition. Prescott was on the way up the nearby Corn Du peak to meet a group of young people on a Duke of Edinburgh scheme expedition.
His colleague Gaynor Hogarth said: “He was taking the last step up to the top when the lightning struck. I saw a bright flash like someone had turned on a fluorescent light behind Jez [Jeremy]. There was no rumble or thunder beforehand – moments before or on the way up.His colleague Gaynor Hogarth said: “He was taking the last step up to the top when the lightning struck. I saw a bright flash like someone had turned on a fluorescent light behind Jez [Jeremy]. There was no rumble or thunder beforehand – moments before or on the way up.
Related: Brecon Beacons lightning strike victim showing signs of recoveryRelated: Brecon Beacons lightning strike victim showing signs of recovery
“If I had seen any lightning before we had left, there would be no way we would have gone up there. At first I didn’t think the lightning had struck Jez … and when he started to fall forward I thought he was joking. But he just dropped to the ground – he didn’t even put his arms out.” Prescott’s shirt was melted, the inquest heard.“If I had seen any lightning before we had left, there would be no way we would have gone up there. At first I didn’t think the lightning had struck Jez … and when he started to fall forward I thought he was joking. But he just dropped to the ground – he didn’t even put his arms out.” Prescott’s shirt was melted, the inquest heard.
Brecon coroner’s court was told the deaths on 5 July could not have been predicted as the weather changed without warning. It heard there are about 325,000 lightning ground strikes in the UK every year and the number of people struck is 50-100 – with up to 10 proving fatal.Brecon coroner’s court was told the deaths on 5 July could not have been predicted as the weather changed without warning. It heard there are about 325,000 lightning ground strikes in the UK every year and the number of people struck is 50-100 – with up to 10 proving fatal.
Consultant pathologist Jason Shannon said postmortems revealed both men died as a result of electrocution.Consultant pathologist Jason Shannon said postmortems revealed both men died as a result of electrocution.
The coroner, Andrew Barkley, recorded a narrative verdict on Meakings, from Surrey, and Prescott, of Telford, Shropshire. He said: “There was nothing to suggest that the trips were ill-advised or that any human error was involved. The coroner, Andrew Barkley, recorded a narrative verdict on Meakings, from Surrey, and Prescott, of Telford, Shropshire. He said: “There was nothing to suggest that the trips were ill-advised or that any human error was involved. These deaths were as a result of exceptional circumstances which could not have been predicted or controlled. The fact that two men not in close proximity to one another died makes this case all the more remarkable, but that will be of little comfort for the families and friends of Mr Meakings and Mr Prescott.”
“These deaths were as a result of exceptional circumstances which could not have been predicted or controlled. The fact that two men not in close proximity to one another died makes this case all the more remarkable, but that will be of little comfort for the families and friends of Mr Meakings and Mr Prescott.”