A campaigner who raised nearly £1m for charity during her life was "excited" about taking part in a microlighting filming project for an Apple headset before she died, an inquest has heard. Claire Lomas began fundraising after a 2007 horse riding accident left her paralysed, with her efforts including completing the 2012 London Marathon in a "bionic" suit. Her inquest was told Lomas was flying an adapted microlight in Jordan on 15 July 2024 when it veered off a road after landing and crashed into a large rock.
The court heard she was then taken to the King Hussein Medical Centre, where Lomas's condition improved before she had a "sudden deterioration" and died on 22 August. Louise Pinder, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, said Lomas's provisional cause of death was multiple severe traumatic injuries. The inquest, which is being held at County Hall, heard Lomas - from Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire - was in Jordan to take part in an Apple-commissioned series called Adventure, which involved filming athletes in "spectacular" locations.
Lina Zilinskaite, senior producer for Atlantic Productions - the company commissioned to film the series - said the firm reached out to Lomas about taking part in a microlighting project. Zilinskaite told the inquest Lomas was "really delighted" about the opportunity and the company was "reassured" that she had some previous experience with media. "She was very enthusiastic and keen and excited about the opportunity," Zilinskaite said.
The court heard she had obtained a licence to fly a microlight - a type of small aircraft - a few years before and had limited experience of about 150 hours. Zilinskaite said the company contacted Ben Ashman, from Flylight Airsports, about her limitations, which informed them she was a "talented pilot" but needed assistance getting in and out of the microlight. The inquest heard a camera was mounted to the microlight, and tests were carried out with Ashman and Lomas flying the microlight with the camera.
Zilinskaite told the court Lomas was "very happy" and it seemed she had "no concerns". The court was told Lomas flew to Jordan on 10 July 2024 - and the challenge was initially earmarked to take place on 14 July, however, it did not take place as it was "too windy". On 15 July, the inquest heard Zilinskaite and Ashman were at the filming location at about 04:00, when they had a conversation about the wind being "good".
However, she added Ashman was "concerned" about a Facebook post from Lomas the night before - and they decided to have a conversation with her at the hotel about whether she wanted to go ahead with the challenge. Zilinskaite said Lomas was "enthusiastic" and was "absolutely sure she wanted to fly". The inquest heard the flight took about 15 minutes - with Ashman landing and clearing the runway before Lomas made her approach.
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