Skydiver 'didn't take his own life'

The girlfriend of a skydiver who plunged 13,000 feet to his death told an inquest today there was "no way" he would have killed himself.

Army cadet Stephen Hilder, 20, fell to his death at Hibaldstow Airfield, north Lincolnshire, in July 2003 after both his main and reserve parachutes were apparently sabotaged.

Ruth Woodhouse, 25, of Stafford, told the Scunthorpe inquest: "I've looked back on the whole relationship since his death and even in hindsight I couldn't find a single thing to suggest that he would have killed himself, or why anyone would kill him."

She said she had been in a "light-hearted, relaxed relationship" with Mr Hilder for about five months before his death.

Asked by coroner Stewart Atkinson if she thought Mr Hilder may have committed suicide, she said: "There is just no way.

"I really don't think he would do it to skydiving. I don't think he would want to disgrace the sport like that."

The hearing continues.