Cameraman who died in mid-air collision while filming 'Human Swan' Sacha Dench in world record attempt raised concerns before fatal crash, inquiry told
Dan Burton, 54, died after his paramotor was in collision with one flown by colleague Ms Dench, a climate activist, in the Highlands in Scotland on September 18 2021.
Ms Dench, an Australian biologist known as the 'human swan' for how she follows swans migrating from Russia to the UK, was trying to travel 3,000 miles around the UK by paramotor to highlight climate change ahead of the Cop26 conference.
She survived but suffered serious injuries in the crash, which occurred near Loch Na Gainmhich in Sutherland, Caithness.
A fatal accident inquiry at Tain Sheriff Court today heard that concerns had been raised about stress by those involved in the expedition including Mr Burton, due to a '24/7' workplace culture.
The potential for a collision between pilots had been highlighted on a risk assessment form, the hearing was told.
Giving evidence, Charlotte Harrison-Littlefield, who used to be social media manager for Conservation Without Borders, a charity founded by Ms Dench, told how she had been involved as a volunteer.
She said she was then paid as the project exceeded the planned timescale, and told the inquiry she was 'concerned' about stress.
She described the expedition as 'travelling around the coast of UK, a part of it was trying to break a world record', and said it also involved interviews and 'content' for Cop26'.
Giving evidence, Ms Harrison-Littlefield said Mr Burton had raised concerns about stress, and there had been a 'heated' conversation between workers, volunteers and the two pilots.
She added that Ms Dench was 'the boss in this scenario' and 'there was no hard outcome', the inquiry heard.
Ms Harrison-Littlefield said that 'whilst on expedition we were essentially volunteering 24/7, it was seven days a week'.
She also spoke of being 'concerned' about stress, with the group typically camping with people they interviewed, the inquiry heard.
Ms Harrison-Littlefield said: 'There were several occasions where Dan Burton expressed to me and others about frustrations with the working environment and general progress of expedition.
'The expedition was chronically behind in terms of where we should be geographically and how many people we interviewed. The time the expedition was due to take - six weeks - was extended to be a lot more.
'It was quite a stressful working environment - we were asked to get a lot done and didn't have time. Conversations about realistic ends were not always heard.
'There was at one point a big conversation about wellbeing, stress and aims that I remember got quite heated, that I remember involved every member of expedition crew.
'I believe the outcome was just a general decision for us to try harder not to stress each other out - I don't believe there was a hard outcome.'
She added: 'Work related stress came from Sacha Dench as she was essentially the boss in this scenario.'
Ms Harrison-Littlefield recalled how, on the day of the accident, the only two people left on the expedition apart from Ms Dench and Mr Burton were herself and another woman who acted as 'ground crew'.
The pilots had flown past the agreed meeting point and waved as they passed, the inquiry heard.
Ms Harrison-Littlefield gave a statement to police saying that one of the electric paramotors was out of use the day of the accident and so a petrol paramotor was used instead.
The statement said: 'Today she tried mixing 20 per cent butanol with 80 per cent petrol and did the first flight with no issues which was around 1.10mins.
'On the second flight which was just outside Dorness where the accident occurred she flew past Dorness past Scourie where we were supposed to meet.'
Ms Dench (pictured in a photo she previously shared on social media) suffered serious injuries in the mid-air collision that happened in September 2021
Ms Harrison-Littlefield said the ground crew drove to Ullapool and attempted to contact the pilots but found that a tracking app 'hadn't updated in a while'.
They then decided to drive the route where the pilots had last been seen but came across emergency services, the inquiry heard.
Ms Harrison-Littlefield said: 'We were advised that one of the flyers had passed away - after a period of time we were advised it was Dan Burton.'
She said there had been a 'kind of away day' but 'no formal training had been provided', and she had a pre-existing St John Ambulance qualification in first aid.
When asked by fiscal depute Jemma Eadie if one of her roles was to be a first aider, Ms Harrison-Littlefield said: 'Not in any official capacity.'
Ms Eadie said: 'Does it come as a surprise to you that your name has been put down as first aider on risk assessment?'
Ms Harrison-Littlefield said: 'Yes, to my knowledge I don't remember it being an official part of my capacity on the expedition.'
A 20-minute film shown at Cop26 in Glasgow in November 2021 - and an hour-long TV documentary by actress Joanna Lumley - were previously aired as tributes to Mr Burton.
While Miss Lumley initially told The Times she wanted to back away from the project, relatives of both Ms Dench and Mr Burton urged her to broadcast the programme.
Both films used footage shot by father-of-two Mr Burton, whose funeral at Topsham, Devon, was on October 8 2021.
Miss Lumley was a keen supporter of Miss Dench's Round Britain Climate Challenge.
She said after the tragic accident: 'Please say how heartbroken I am and that Dan was the best company, brave as a lion and an expert in his field.
'All thoughts and prayers are with his family and with Sacha, who is the best of the best and has become a darling friend.'
The Absolutely Fabulous star became aware of climate activist Ms Dench - a distant relative of Dame Judi Dench - after spotting her fundraising campaign.
Miss Lumley said previously: 'Sacha Dench's adventures are stories you can only dream of - facing down all barriers and blessed with the courage of a lioness she literally soars into history books, and inspires everyone.
'Sacha is clawing attention towards the greatest crisis mankind has faced in recorded time.'
The inquiry continues in front of Sheriff Neil Wilson.
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