Death of base-jumping father-of-two from Sheffield recorded as ‘misadventure’
The death of a Sheffield father-of-two tragically killed while base-jumping in the Swiss Alps was a case of misadventure, an inquest has ruled.
Mark Hart, aged 44, of Upper Albert Road, Meersbrook, died performing a jump with friends in the Lauterbrunnen Valley on August 26, 2018.
The extreme sport involves leaping from cliffs, mountains or buildings while wearing a wing suit or using a parachute.
A post-mortem examination of Mr Hart’s body found he died from multiple injuries inflicted when he hit the mountainside. He had also taken cannabis prior to his death.
Mr Hart, who changed his middle name to Dangerous by deed poll, ‘died doing the sport he loved’ according to a GoFundMe page set up to support his fiancée Anna Baker and three-year-old twins Megan and Bethany.
Because of the circumstances surrounding his death, his travel insurance did not cover the repatriation of his body to the UK.
More than £18,000 was raised online to help bring him home.
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Mark, who worked as a joiner, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1974 as his father was serving in the army there. He moved to Sheffield after meeting Anna.
Described as an ‘adrenaline junkie’, his sporting career began as a child when he developed a love of gymnastics and rock climbing.
He had often climbed in the Peak District and had snowboarded all over Europe.
However, when a knee injury stopped him snowboarding he turned to skydiving, completing more than 250 dives.
He started base jumping in 2015 and had taken part in over 175 jumps.