AN inquest has been opened into the death of a walker whose body was found on Helvellyn between Christmas and new year.

Mark Kamal Laughton, aged 59, died on 28th December having been out on the Lake District’s third highest fell.

At Cockermouth Coroners’ Court, an inquest was formally opened into Mr Laughton’s death.

Assistant Cumbria coroner Ms Margaret Taylor, outlining some brief circumstances, noted that Mr Laughton had been walking alone on Helvellyn.

He had been found by a member of the public, she said. Mountain rescue team members responded and he was sadly pronounced dead at scene.

An assumption had initially been that Mr Laughton, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, had felt unwell and sat down, or suffered a medical episode, said Ms Taylor.

A post mortem examination had since taken place, after which the coroner had been offered a cause of death of drug intoxication.

As a result, a full inquest was needed, concluded Ms Taylor.

The hearing was adjourned to 4th June. There was limited information available at present, and more enquiries will be made in the coming weeks.