A three -year -old father tragically lost his life after he had fallen 250 feet of a cliff while operating a drone on a small island in South Devon.
The research heard that Giles Battye, Van Exeter, had walked near the edge of the cliff when he was distracted by his drone and did not notice the dangerous drop.
Coroner Miss Alison Longhorn concluded that death was an accident and excluding suicide.
The court heard that Mr Battye had fought against Long Covid, who had taken both his health and a toll.
The disease led to the collapse of his store -based shops established in London, and he had also experienced the emotional tension of a breakdown of relationships and the death of his father and a good friend who was also his business partner.
These challenges, in combination with his deteriorating health, saw Mr Battye move to Totnes, Devon, to live with his mother, where he continued to struggle with the consequences of his illness.
The research heard that Giles Battye, Van Exeter, had walked near the edge of the cliff when he was distracted by his drone and did not notice the dangerous drop
Mr Battye moves to Totnes, Devon, to live with his mother, where he continued to struggle with the effects of his illness (stock image)
His mother told the research that despite his struggles he remained 'optimistic' and had a warm, affectionate nature.
On December 2, 2022, Mr Battye went out in his van and was no longer heard. His mother reported to miss him three days later.
CCTV images later confirmed that his van was parked on Burgh Island, a small island on the coast of South Devon, and his possessions, including a backpack and GoPro camera, were found by a member of the public and transferred to the Art Deco Hotel of the island.
A full search, in which police, coast guards and a lifeboat were involved, was launched. The body of Mr. Battye was discovered on the rocks under the towering 250ft cliffs.
The drone was found nearby, but it was damaged by water and his images could not be picked up.
His GoPro camera, however, unveiled several short clips from Mr. Battye who ran near the edge of the cliff as he looked at the camera instead of his environment.
The drone was found nearby, but it was damaged by water and the images could not be picked up (file photo)
The coroner explained that Mr Battye had walked confidently along the edge of the cliff, but his attention was diverted by the drone, which led to the fatal fall. He died of multiple traumatic injuries.
His mother said that, despite the financial difficulties with which he had to do, Mr Battye would inherit a £ 1 million real estate portfolio, including her vacation -Let and Shop components.
Miss Longhorn, the coroner, registered a conclusion of accidental death and stated that Mr Battye's distraction led to the fatal fall through the drone.
There was no evidence that he suggested that he was planning to take his own life, and he had no history of mental health problems.
