Two British friends working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) died while hiking in temperatures exceeding 40C. An inquest has been opened into the deaths of Cassius Newton, 34, from Poole in Dorset, and Aran Martinson, 33, from Essex.
The pair died on July 18 and were living in Ras Al Khaimah at the time, having moved there for work. Their inquests were opened separately in Chelmsford on Thursday.
Hike began at 7am in desert valley
Essex area coroner Michelle Brown said 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, according to Ms Brown.
Both men found with rocks surrounding them
Ms Brown described the area as a "wholly mountainous region" and said Mr Newton was "found lying on his back with rocks surrounding him". He was about "350 metres away from his friend" and 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.
Opening the inquest into Mr Martinson's death separately, Ms Brown said he was "working for a global company and staying in the UAE". 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.
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 coming entirely from written materials.
