RAF pilot’s death while paragliding at Dinorwig Quarry was accidental, inquest rules

The death of a flying instructor from RAF Valley while paragliding was an accident, an inquest has concluded. Flt Lt Geoffrey Robert Corser, 46, was off duty and attempting to fly through an old quarry near Llanberis, Gwynedd, manoeuvring between rocks close to the ground. But witnesses on 23 August 2025 saw his paraglider swaying from side to side and said he did not appear to be in full control, the inquest heard at Caernarfon Coroner's Court. He collided with a vertical rock face, fell about 164ft (50m) to the ground and died from serious head injuries, said coroner Sarah Riley. The inquest was told Flt Lt Corser had gone with a friend to the slopes of Elidir Fawr near Llanberis early that morning. Both were intending to carry out a form of paragliding known as "speed flying", which involves higher speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph) and flying much closer to the ground. His colleague launched first and successfully completed a four-minute flight. However, Flt Lt Corser decided to launch from another part of the mountain and set off alone, the inquest heard. He was seen soon afterwards by two climbers, flying over a disused quarry before heading out of sight through a V-shaped gap