Two British friends who were working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) died after going for a hike on a hot day, an inquest has heard. Cassius Newton, 34, from Poole in Dorset, and Aran Martinson, 33, from Essex, both died on July 18 this year.
Both were living in Ras Al Khaimah at the time, having moved there to work, their inquests heard as they were opened separately in Chelmsford on Thursday.
Hike in mountainous region
Essex area coroner Michelle Brown said that Mr Newton "decided to go for a hike with a friend in the morning, about 7am" at Wadi Naqab, a desert valley. "His wife expressed concerns as she hadn’t heard from him - she being in the UK - and reported him missing," the coroner said. "It appears they had gone on a route that's a recreational route, not needing hiking equipment."
The inquest heard temperatures would have reached more than 40C. "Mr Newton was found by a search team approximately three or four kilometres from the vehicle," she said.
Cause of death
Ms Brown said the area was a "wholly mountainous region" and that Mr Newton was "found lying on his back with rocks surrounding him". She said he was "350 metres away from his friend". He was taken to hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, where his death was confirmed later that day.
The provisional medical cause of death for both men was recorded as cardiac and respiratory arrest due to severe rising body temperature and heat stress caused by exposure to high temperatures.
Second inquest opened
Opening the inquest into the death of Mr Martinson separately, Ms Brown said he was "working for a global company and staying in the UAE". She said he went for a hike at about 7am on July 18 and was found by a search team deployed after his friend was reported missing.
"He was found lying on the left side of the road with rocks surrounding him," the coroner said. She said he was taken to hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, where his death was confirmed later on July 18.
Ms Brown adjourned both inquests until a date to be fixed and said they were likely to proceed as documentary hearings, with evidence entirely from written materials.
