A MAN who suffered a heart attack on the cliff top at Malham Cove plunged over the edge and was found dead at the bottom, an inquest has been told.

David Longbottom, 72, of Ossett, had been walking on his own at the famous beauty spot on November 5 when he appeared to lose his balance and tumble over the edge, the hearing at Skipton Magistrates' Court was told.

His plunge of about 260 feet was seen by a group of walkers and climbers at the bottom.

In a statement read by coroner Rob Turnbull, one of the walkers, Adam Jeffs, said that he had heard a loud noise and saw the body of Mr Longbottom falling. He had landed 20 feet away from where Mr Jeffs was standing. Another climber immediately called the emergency services.

PC Simon Crossley. of Grassington Police, had answered a radio call and told the coroner he had found Mr Longbottom lying on his back with his eyes open. PC Crossley found there was no pulse. He appeared to have lost his walking boots during the fall. Volunteers from the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation later carried the body away to a team vehicle, the hearing was told.

A post-mortem examination showed that Mr Longbottom has suffered a coronary thrombosis as well as multiple fractures in the fall.

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Turnbull said Mr Longbottom had been out walking on his own in Malham Cove when he had suffered an "acute coronary event" which had caused him to fall over the cliff and he had suffered multiple injuries during that fall.

It was uncertain whether he was already dead as he fell.