Latest news with #EssexCoroner'sCourt
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Lord of the Rings fan died while on 'dream trip' to locations in the film
Joseph Snode's mum Elaine said their family are all massive Lord of the Rings fans, which is what drew him to New Zealand. She said: 'He wanted to visit the film sets, which was thrilling for him and for us to hear' A Lord of the Rings fan was tragically killed in a car crash while hitchhiking to locations used in the films. Joseph Snode, 26, from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, was in a vehicle on his way to Christchurch in New Zealand when the driver giving him a lift lost control and crashed into a wall, an inquest heard. The former film and photography student had graduated with a first class degree from the University of Buckingham in High Wycombe before taking a bar manager job at to fund the backpacking trip, which had included a trip to the Hobbiton set. Explaining the circumstances of Mr Snode's death, Coroner Michelle Brown told Essex Coroner's Court he had been "offered a lift by a lady and her teenage children". The woman was driving on the Otira Highway, on New Zealand's South Island, when the crash happened near Jacksons railway station on January 28 last year. Ms Brown said: "The car drifted to the left side of the road before overcorrecting, rotating and sliding across both lanes. The rear left of the car hit a stone wall. Mr Snode, who was in the left rear passenger seat, died at the scene." Ms Brown said it was "unknown" how the driver, who was later sentenced after admitting a charge of the careless use of a vehicle causing death, came to crash the vehicle. She ruled Mr Snode died from multiple head and chest injuries in a road traffic collision. Mr Snode's body was repatriated to the UK after a £10,000 fundraising campaign, which also covered the funeral costs. On the online campaign page, his mother, Elaine, wrote: "He was literally living his dream life before it was taken from him." She added her son was "always full of life and a loving, caring, intelligent young man" who she described as "one-in-a-billion". Speaking at the time of her son's death, Elaine the family had been overwhelmed by the wealth of loving messages from across the world. She said: "He was loved by lots of people which has been obvious from all the donations we've had so far. Every day we've been hearing from people that he's met and stayed in touch with. He had a passion for photography. This was one of the reasons why he wanted to travel; he wanted to do photography and filming as he went around the world. "He was always full of smiles, he made friends with everyone that he met. He was planning on travelling after leaving uni, but then Covid reared its ugly head and stopped that. He worked through uni at the student union bar and was promoted. He worked very hard in that for four years saving money. He worked at festivals like Glastonbury and Reading. He was asked to do higher up positions each time; he ended up managing people. He again made so many friends there. "A lot of people said he was the sort of person that would help them if they were struggling, any problems he was always there. He was so kind and considerate, he just had a lovely way about him. He never judged anyone, he accepted people for who they were and tried his best to get on with everyone." Elaine said their family are all massive Lord of the Rings fans, which is what drew Joseph to New Zealand. She continued: "He wanted to visit the film sets, which was thrilling for him and for us to hear. He stayed with his friend, we were just constantly getting photos from him and stories about people he was meeting. He loved being with people but also loved being on his own; going for a long hike, pitching his tent and being on his own with nature." "He loved music, he had different genres for different times that he liked to share. Travelling is something he wanted to do since quite a young age, he never wanted to settle down in one place, he liked to meet people. He had his backpack and tent and would go on a walk and go down to the park with friends."
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
British climber was killed by avalanche in Norway
A British man was killed by an avalanche while scaling a frozen waterfall in Norway, a coroner said. Henry Crosby was climbing Gaustatoppen mountain on 21 February when he died. The 41-year-old from Saffron Walden was near the summit when he became "covered by falling snow", Essex Coroner's Court heard. Area coroner Michelle Brown said Mr Crosby's provisional cause of death was from traumatic head injuries. He had been with a friend, who was injured in the incident. "This 41-year-old gentleman was on an ice climbing holiday in Norway," said Ms Brown, opening the inquest. "He was near the summit of a mountain when an avalanche occurred; he was covered by falling snow." The coroner said a full inquest would be heard at a later date. Mr Crosby's friend has returned to the UK having overcome his injuries, the BBC understands. Rescuers reportedly failed to recover Mr Crosby's body for several days due to poor weather conditions. Efforts to save his friend were postponed several times due to the bleak weather conditions, Norway's NRK reported. Gaustatoppen mountain is located in Norway's southern Telemark county. A post-mortem examination of Mr Crosby in Oslo was unable to determine his cause of death, Ms Brown said. However, his head trauma was confirmed during later reviews in Essex. According to NRK, fire and police officers abseiled and used ropes to recover Mr Crosby's body on 25 February, as poor conditions meant it was not possible to use a helicopter. "Prevailing weather conditions, avalanche danger and accessibility made it a very complicated and demanding task to get in and down to the climbers," local emergency manager Tor Einar Bakken told NRK in February. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. British man dies and one injured while climbing in Norway HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
British climber Henry Crosby died in Norway avalanche
A British man was killed by an avalanche while scaling a frozen waterfall in Norway, a coroner Crosby was climbing Gaustatoppen mountain on 21 February when he 41-year-old from Saffron Walden was near the summit when he became "covered by falling snow", Essex Coroner's Court coroner Michelle Brown said Mr Crosby's provisional cause of death was from traumatic head injuries. He had been with a friend, who was injured in the incident."This 41-year-old gentleman was on an ice climbing holiday in Norway," said Ms Brown, opening the inquest."He was near the summit of a mountain when an avalanche occurred; he was covered by falling snow."The coroner said a full inquest would be heard at a later Crosby's friend has returned to the UK having overcome his injuries, the BBC understands. Rescuers reportedly failed to recover Mr Crosby's body for several days due to poor weather to save his friend were postponed several times due to the bleak weather conditions, Norway's NRK mountain is located in Norway's southern Telemark county.A post-mortem examination of Mr Crosby in Oslo was unable to determine his cause of death, Ms Brown his head trauma was confirmed during later reviews in to NRK, fire and police officers abseiled and used ropes to recover Mr Crosby's body on 25 February, as poor conditions meant it was not possible to use a helicopter."Prevailing weather conditions, avalanche danger and accessibility made it a very complicated and demanding task to get in and down to the climbers," local emergency manager Tor Einar Bakken told NRK in February. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
28-02-2025
- BBC News
Gran dies in Southend after being crushed by Storm Eunice debris
A grandmother was crushed to death by "incomplete" brick cladding that blew off a building in stormy weather, an inquest jury were struck by falling bricks as they attempted to pull Rochelle Crane from the rubble in Southend-on-Sea on 18 February came amid a red weather warning, as wind speeds in the Essex city reached 90mph (144km/h) during Storm Eunice. Ms Crane was taken to the Royal London Hospital and died on 22 April 2022, two months after sustaining brain and spinal injuries. She had been shopping in the city having "dismissed" the danger of high winds, said her daughter, Louise. Jurors at Essex Coroner's Court said brick slip cladding "detached in its entirety" and blew off a building in Southchurch Road and struck Ms concluded the design of the cladding was "incomplete" and it was not possible to assess its suitability and fitness for they said it had been used on previous building Crane died from a "hypoxic brain injury and polytrauma", the jury determined. 'Imminent danger' The inquest heard written evidence from Colin Moy, a paramedic who attended the scene with a colleague and an Moy said when he arrived, he saw Ms Crane on the pavement "surrounded by bricks, mortar and glass". Having been struck by falling debris, Mr Moy described there being "imminent danger" and due to a "high risk" of the building being unstable, he decided to drag Ms Crane out of the reacted with audible shock when played CCTV footage of the incident unfolding.A statement previously read to the court on Louise Crane's behalf told of the "profound" impact her mother's death had on her."My grief is compounded by the ongoing inquiries," Ms Crane said in her statement, adding that she felt "alone in the world". Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Beautician drowned after 'crash threw her from car'
A beautician drowned after she was thrown from a car and became trapped when the vehicle crashed into a ditch, an inquest heard. Kelsie Stevens, 19, was "submerged" in water for an hour after the crash in Crays Hill, near Basildon, on 25 May 2024. Essex Coroner's Court heard Ms Stevens, from West Hanningfield, died from "submersion with entrapment" after she was pinned beneath the vehicle. Four men - aged 74, 54, 18 and 16 - all from Billericay, and one woman, aged 20, from Rayleigh, were arrested in connection with her death. They have all remained on police bail since the incident. Area coroner Michelle Brown said Ms Stevens was "very young" and died in "tragic circumstances. "I would just like to extend my personal sympathies," she added. The brief hearing in Chelmsford was told Ms Stevens was a passenger in a Mercedes, which crashed at about 00:35 BST while heading towards Wickford. Ms Brown said: "The vehicle suddenly left the carriageway and collided with a street sign. "The vehicle has rolled and she has been ejected from the vehicle." Ms Stevens drowned having been trapped under the car in a water-filled ditch, the court heard. The coroner suspended further inquest proceedings so Essex Police could continue investigating. In a tribute issued through police after her death, Ms Stevens' family said she was a "dearly loved" daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend. She worked as a lash technician and "enjoyed dancing, horse riding, cooking, baking, listening to music and spending time with her Dachshund". "All of us will greatly miss Kelsie very much," they added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Family pays tribute to beautician killed in crash Essex Coroner's Service
