Inquest delayed into the death of a skydiver in County Durham
The videographer died during a parachute jump at Shotton Airfield in April 2024
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.
He suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at South West Industrial Estate near Peterlee.
At a hearing at Crook Civic Centre on Thursday, coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said a pre-inquest review would be needed to decide on a legal matter regarding disclosure of evidence.
This will be held on January 6.
Leni Boudewijn, who is the mother of Mr Cornwell's children, asked via a videolink for clarification on the need for the delay.
Mr Chipperfield explained that the disclosure issue, which regards whether a report he has received could be shared with local authority investigators, needed to be resolved.
The coroner said:
"I am afraid it does mean that more time goes.
"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 has 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.
An inquest was held in August for Jade Damarell, 32, who died while skydiving from Shotton in April this year.
The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide after he found that she deliberately did not open her parachute or the reserve.