TWO woman battled to save a man they found hanging from a tree in a hollow near Sharphaw summit, Jonathan Heath, assistant Craven coroner was told.

Walkers, Pip Bolland and Miriam Long freed Guy Sugden by loosening the "cord" with a key and laying him on the ground in the recovery position.

Between them they applied chest compressions with instructions relayed from the emergency services operator, later helped by another passing walker.

Medics, who arrived by air ambulance, continued resuscitation but the 55-year-old from Bingley was pronounced dead at 12.50pm on Monday, April 3.

Mr Heath was told that Mr Sugden had not left a note and there was no sign of a struggle and his death was not suspicious.

The two women had parked at Tarn Moor Caravan Park in Skipton and followed the footpath towards and up Sharphaw.

As they descended on the other side of the hill, they saw Mr Sugden hanging from a tree, by a cord, as they entered a hollow.

While waiting for the emergency services to arrive, they applied chest compressions following instruction from an operator.

In recording his "suicide" verdict, Mr Heath said be believed Mr Sugden had intended taking his own life, carrying it out where he was not expected to be disturbed.