An inquest has been opened into the death of a 41-year-old woman who died following a fall at a Cornish beach. Rachel Anne Gwilliam, a married accountant from Billingshurst, West Sussex, was airlifted from Pentreath Beach on the Lizard Peninsula on July 20 and later died at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Inquest details
Senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney told a brief public hearing that Ms Gwilliam was born in Reading, Berkshire, and lived in Billingshurst. She sustained injuries in a fall from cliffs at Pentreath Beach and was admitted to hospital. Her condition deteriorated, and she died on July 21. The cause of death was given as traumatic brain injury resulting from the fall.
Emergency response
Emergency services responded to the incident at approximately 12:30pm. A South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust spokesperson confirmed a patient was transported to Derriford Hospital via air ambulance. A land ambulance, two air ambulances, and an operations officer were dispatched to the scene. HM Coastguard teams from Mullion and Porthoustock responded, supported by an RNLI lifeboat from Lizard and a search and rescue helicopter from Newquay.
Mr Spinney has adjourned the inquest, with a full hearing scheduled for a future date.
