‘Human Swan’ Breaks Down in Tears at Fatal Paramotor Crash Inquiry
Climate activist Sacha Dench, widely known as the ‘human swan’, broke down in tears multiple times while giving evidence at a fatal accident inquiry into a mid-air paramotor collision that resulted in the death of her co-pilot, Dan Burton, aged 54. The tragic incident occurred in the Scottish Highlands in 2021 during a round-Britain expedition aimed at highlighting climate change issues.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The collision took place while Ms Dench was undertaking the Round Britain Climate Challenge, a 3,000-mile paramotor journey intended to draw attention to environmental concerns ahead of the Cop26 conference in Glasgow. Mr Burton, an experienced pilot from Devon, died in the crash, while Ms Dench survived but sustained serious injuries. The inquiry, held at Tain Sheriff Court, heard that the pair had been planning to land near Ullapool on the day of the accident, but both came down in an unplanned location.
Emotional Testimony and Adjournments
During her testimony, Ms Dench became visibly distressed, leading to the inquiry being adjourned to allow her time to compose herself and an early lunch break being taken. She described Mr Burton as “highly experienced – potentially the most experienced expedition pilot I know”, having first met him around 2005-2006 during her free-diving days and starting to fly paramotors together around 2012. They had previously collaborated on the BBC-documented Flight of the Swans expedition and were planning an African paramotor trip at the time of his death.
Expedition Planning and Communication
The inquiry, which resumed after earlier hearings in May last year and January this year, delved into the planning of the round-Britain challenge. Originally envisioned as an eight-week continuous circumnavigation, it was scaled back to segmented flights due to the limited battery life of the electric paramotors, which lasted only 30 minutes per charge. Ms Dench explained that they meticulously coordinated take-off and landing sites daily and used Bluetooth headsets in their helmets for communication, which automatically connected within about 800 metres, providing an open channel for discussing scenery, weather, and route changes.
Background of the ‘Human Swan’
Ms Dench, an Australian activist, earned the nickname ‘human swan’ for her paramotor adventures tracking swan migrations from Russia to the UK. Her high-profile expeditions have brought attention to climate and conservation issues, making this fatal accident a poignant moment in her advocacy work. The inquiry continues as authorities seek to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
