A WALKER who fell up to 100 metres from a mountain ridge 'died doing what he loved'.

An inquest heard how Dr Jamie Butler, 54, tragically fell from the Striding Edge section of Helvellyn having taken on the popular walk with his wife.

Cockermouth Coroner's Court was told that the GP, from Altrincham, must have fallen from the mountain amid misty conditions and poor visibility.

Dr Butler and his wife Margaret had visited Glenridding on November 2.

The mountain was said was to have held a special place in the couple's hearts with Striding Edge being the site of Dr Butler's proposal to his wife 27 years before.

The inquest heard the couple had taken on the walk in the afternoon. Mrs Butler said when the couple reached Striding Edge she was too tired and Dr Butler walked along it on his own.

In a statement read in the inquest, Mrs Butler described seeing her husband walk off into mist.

After he was gone for a while she shouted after him but received no response and called the police 'concerned something had happened to him'.

Mountain rescuers were scrambled to search for the walker and later found his body below the ridge.

He was found with significant injuries, including a fractured skull, and was later pronounced dead.

The inquest heard Dr Butler was facing unspecified historical 'allegations' and had been suspended from practice.

He said the way NHS England and the police had dealt with allegation was 'not appropriate' and was committed to clearing his name.

His doctor said he showed no intent to take his own life.

Coroner Kirsty Gomersal accepted a post-mortem finding that Dr Butler died as a result of multiple injuries from the fall.

Delivering her conclusion, she said: "In my judgement, a conclusion of accidental death is the most appropriate for me to reach.

"Although there had been allegations against him he was determined to clear his name and his doctor was sure there was no suicidal intention."

Mrs Butler paid tribute to her husband.

"Jamie was a loving husband with two twin boys who he adored," she said.

"He will be forever missed.

"He died doing what he loved."