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15
Dec 2022
Ripon teacher died after accidental fall in Italian Dolomites, coroner rules
A Ripon teacher died after an accidental fall in the Italian Dolomites, a coroner has ruled.
Louise Atkinson, 55, of North Stainley, was trekking with her partner in the Tires Valley, Bolzano, in northern Italy, when she fell to her death on July 24 this year.
An inquest today heard that Ms Atkinson and John Dickinson, who had both been to the area four years prior, were heading on a more difficult route after their original path had changed due to a new restaurant development.
In a statement given to the court, which was read by coroner Catherine Cundy, Mr Dickinson said the pair took a different path "hoping to find a route we were familiar with”.
He said:
The inquest heard Ms Atkinson was about 20 feet behind Mr Dickinson.
After deciding to turn back, Mr Dickinson then heard her lose her step and slip off the cliff.
He said:
The inquest heard Ms Atkinson rolled about 35 metres down the mountain.
Two young walkers alerted the Italian emergency services and a mountain rescue helicopter was called out to the scene.
The commander of the mountain service said in a statement to the coroner that “serious injuries to her body” led to Ms Atkinson’s death.
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He added Mr Dickinson had “tried in vain” to save her following the fall.
A post-mortem carried out by Elzer Tjio, of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, concluded the cause of death was a traumatic brain injury.
Ms Cundy concluded that Ms Atkinson’s death was an accident likely to have been caused by her losing her footing on the route.
She said:
'An amazing teacher'
Following her death, tributes were paid to Ms Atkinson, who was a teacher at Roecliffe Church of England School near Boroughbridge and St Wilfrid’s Catholic School in Ripon.
One person posted:
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