Climate Activist 'Human Swan' Breaks Down at Inquest into Fatal Mid-Air Collision

Climate Activist 'Human Swan' Breaks Down at Inquest into Fatal Mid-Air Collision

Climate activist Sacha Dench, famously nicknamed the 'Human Swan', sobbed openly today while giving evidence at a fatal accident inquiry into the death of a fellow powered paraglider pilot with whom she collided in mid-air. The emotional testimony revealed her ongoing trauma from a previous crash, which left her 'paranoid' about flying near other pilots.

Record-Breaking Expedition Ends in Tragedy

The collision occurred on September 18, 2021, near Loch Na Gainmhich in Sutherland, Caithness, during Dench's ambitious Round Britain Climate Challenge. She was attempting a groundbreaking 3,000-mile journey around Britain to highlight climate change issues ahead of the Cop26 conference in Glasgow later that year. The aircraft she was piloting collided with one flown by Dan Burton, a 54-year-old from Devon, who tragically died in the incident. Dench survived but sustained serious injuries.

This expedition followed her acclaimed earlier journey documented in the BBC film Flight Of The Swans, where she tracked swans migrating from Russia to the UK, earning her the 'Human Swan' moniker. The Round Britain Climate Challenge had begun in June 2021, with high-profile support including from actress Joanna Lumley.

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Previous Crash Left Deep Psychological Scars

At Tain Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Dench recounted a prior collision while paragliding onto a hill in Wales, which occurred approximately four-and-a-half years earlier. Fighting back tears, she admitted, 'I hit my head pretty hard' during that accident, affecting her memory of specific details. She described the incident vividly: 'I was coming into land and another pilot above me caught his knee in my wing, and we both landed together. I got dragged off the top of the hill, dragged along on my face. I didn't know it at the time but I had broken my arm as well.'

The aftermath profoundly changed her flying habits. Dench explained she became 'very paranoid about no-one flying close to me', adopting a 'very strict rule' to mostly fly alone and avoid crowded areas altogether. This made her decision to fly with Burton particularly significant.

Trust in Fellow Pilot Despite Fears

When questioned by Victoria Andrews, representing the charity Conservation Without Borders, about why she was willing to fly with Burton despite her paranoia, Dench simply replied, 'I trusted him.' She elaborated that they had flown extensively together, including on the long-distance Flight of the Swans expedition from Russia, and he was thoroughly familiar with her piloting style.

Dench, originally from Australia, provided detailed insights into paramotoring safety protocols during the inquiry. She stated there was 'no need to be within 50 metres of another pilot', with flying to the side being safest. She emphasized that paragliders should never fly directly in front or behind each other due to turbulence and visibility issues, placing the duty on the rear pilot to avoid that position.

Communication and Flying Protocols Examined

The inquiry delved into the communication systems used, which involved 'open channel' Bluetooth headsets that automatically connected when pilots were within about 800 metres. Dench explained that if out of range for filming purposes, an audible sound would alert them upon reconnection. Her representative, Simon Richards, clarified that without communication, pilots assumed they were out of range and could maneuver freely without warning each other.

Dench noted that Burton would sometimes fly directly above or behind her for photography or videography, but only under specific, communicated protocols. 'The only time would be if we were in communication and he was specifically telling me where to go,' she said. 'Otherwise he would not be anywhere near me.'

Tributes and Ongoing Inquiry

The fatal accident inquiry had previously heard evidence in May last year and January this year. Tributes to Burton included a 20-minute film shown at Cop26 and an hour-long television documentary by Joanna Lumley, both featuring footage shot by the father-of-two. His funeral took place in Topsham, Devon, on October 8, 2021.

Lumley, a staunch supporter of Dench's climate challenge, expressed profound grief after the accident, saying, 'Please say how heartbroken I am and that Dan was the best company, brave as a lion and an expert in his field. All thoughts and prayers are with his family and with Sacha, who is the best of the best and has become a darling friend.'

The inquiry continues as authorities seek to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the tragic mid-air collision that cut short a climate awareness mission and claimed a life.