Burnham: Keith death was "tragic accident" (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Burnham: Keith death was "tragic accident"

9:10am Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

A Burnham kayaker died of a cardiac arrest as a result of electrocution, an inquest heard.

Keith Kirkum, 59, of Regents Court, Burnham, took his kayak out alone in Bradwell-on-Sea at the beginning of August last year, only for a thunderstorm to later hit the area.
 

It is understood that he suffered a cardiac arrest from a lightning strike and a dog walker found his body on Bradwell beach the following day.
 

At his inquest on Tuesday, coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said he may have died on August 6, even though his body was found on August 7.
 

Mrs Beasley-Murray said: “It was a sudden and unexpected death and a postmortem examination has been carried out.
 

“The doctor has given us the cause of death as cardiac arrest down to electrocution.
 

“It was very clear that Mr Kirkum was much loved.
 

“I shall record that Keith David Kirkum died as a result of an accident.
 

“It was a tragic accident.”

See the MBS for the full story.