A fatal accident inquiry into the tragic death of a camera operator following a devastating mid-air paramotor collision is scheduled to resume proceedings this week. The inquiry focuses on the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident that claimed the life of Dan Burton, a 54-year-old cameraman from Devon.
Details of the tragic collision
The collision occurred in September 2021 near Loch Na Gainmhich in Sutherland, within the Scottish Highlands. Mr Burton was operating his paramotor when it was involved in a mid-air crash with another paramotor flown by his colleague, Sacha Dench. Known internationally as the "human swan" for her remarkable adventures following swan migrations from Russia to the UK, Ms Dench survived the collision but sustained serious injuries that required extensive medical treatment.
Climate change awareness mission
At the time of the accident, Ms Dench was undertaking an ambitious 3,000-mile round-Britain paramotor challenge. This extraordinary expedition was designed to draw attention to the urgent issue of climate change ahead of the crucial Cop26 conference. The collision tragically interrupted this high-profile environmental awareness campaign, resulting in fatal consequences for her colleague.
Legal proceedings and evidence
The Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) will reconvene at Tain Sheriff Court on Monday, where further evidence will be presented and examined. Previous hearings have already taken place in May of last year and again in January of this year, during which preliminary evidence was heard by the court. Ms Dench, an Australian national renowned for her paramotor expeditions, is expected to provide crucial testimony during the resumed proceedings.
The inquiry aims to establish the precise circumstances that led to the fatal collision and determine whether any preventable factors contributed to this tragic accident. The resumption of the FAI represents a significant step toward understanding what occurred during that fateful flight in the Highlands and may provide closure for those affected by this devastating event.
