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'Human swan' activist weeps during fatal air crash inquiry

News imagePA Media Sacha Dench is outside. It is a sunny day and sunlight is reflected on objects behind her. Dench has long blonde hair and is wearing a green coat and green scarf.PA Media
Sacha Dench and cameraman Dan Burton were on a round-Britain flight in light aircraft called paramotors

A climate activist dubbed the "human swan" has broken down in tears while giving evidence to an inquiry into a fatal mid-air crash over the Highlands.

Sacha Dench was attempting a round-Britain paramotor challenge when her light aircraft was involved in a collision with one flown by cameraman Dan Burton close to Loch Na Gainmhich, near Lochinver.

Burton, 54, from Devon, died and Dench was seriously injured in the crash in September 2021.

She told the inquiry at Tain Sheriff Court that Burton was a "highly experienced" pilot and they flown on expeditions before.

The 3,000-mile (4,828km) Round Britain Climate Challenge was intended to highlight the issue of climate change ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

Australian Dench said she first met Burton in 2005 or 2006 during her time as a free diver, the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) heard.

They had flown together since 2012.

They flew on an expedition called Flight of the Swans, which was recounted in a BBC documentary, and had been planning a trip to Africa.

Dench wept on several occasions during her evidence, and at one point the inquiry was adjourned to allow her time to compose herself.

Asked for her assessment of his level of experience with paramotors she replied: "Highly experienced - potentially the most experienced expedition pilot I know."

News imageConservation Without Borders Dan Burton is in the sky in a light aircraft called a paramotor. There is no cockpit and Mr Burton, who is wearing a white helmet and black flying suit, is exposed to the elements. The aircraft has a large motor behind the pilot. Mr Burton is flying above clouds and green fields.Conservation Without Borders
Dan Burton was taking part in a conservation project when the crash happened

Fiscal depute Jemma Eadie asked Dench about the planning and preparation for the round-Britain expedition, which the inquiry heard had originally been expected to last eight weeks.

Dench said it was originally envisaged as a continuous circumnavigation of the UK, but that this changed to only doing "a few segments" because of the batteries in the paramotors' electric motors only lasted 30 minutes at a time.

The inquiry heard the pair agreed on take-off and landing sites, and midway stopping points every evening and morning before flying.

She said they could communicate while in the air through headsets built into their helmets.

Dench said the headsets connected automatically when they were within about 2,624ft (800m) of each other.

The FAI heard that the headsets provided an "open channel" that did not need any buttons to be pressed to speak.

Asked what they would talk about Dench said: "We'd be chatting about the scenery, where we were going to, any changes in weather conditions."

She said on the day of the crash the pair had been planning to land in a field near Ullapool.

The FAI previously heard some evidence during hearings in May last year and in January this year.

The inquiry continues.