Fall in Alps killed walker
A 57-year-old walking enthusiast from Kingswinford died following a fall while he was exploring Austria's eastern Alps, an inquest was told today.
Patrick Oakley was found dead after failing to return to a mountain lodge he had booked in at.
Black Country Coroner Mr Robin Balmain said he had died at Dachstein Skywalk, in Klettevsig, on June 25.
A ski-ing destination in winter, Dachstein is a popular walking base in the summer.
The glacier is the furthest east in the Alps, and at an altitude of 2,700 metres the area's highest point has views stretching from the Bohemian Forest to the Triglav Mountains in Slovenia.
The coroner told an inquest opening that Mr Oakley, a single hospital porter, of Kingsley Road, had been formally identified by his brother Paul last week.
"This man was apparently walking in Austria and had booked in at a walking lodge, but did not come back by nightfall," he said. "The next day a search party found his body in a valley."
A post mortem carried out in this country had shown Mr Oakley died of multiple injuries, consistent with a fall. He adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed.
