Gyrocopter pilot had heart attack

John Pearce was flying to Bodmin for a round of golf

The family of a gyrocopter pilot whose machine crashed on Bodmin Moor say they are relieved at the outcome of an inquest into his death.

The inquest heard that John Pearce, 69, from Taunton in Somerset had suffered major heart failure at the controls.

His family had feared that a failure of the single-seat helicopter-style aircraft may have caused his death.

An inquest jury at Launceston returned a verdict of death by natural causes following the crash on 1 June 2006.

Mr Pearce's son Mike said the family was pleased with the outcome of the inquest.

Mr Pearce had been flying to Bodmin Airfield to meet a friend and play a round of golf when he crashed at Simonstone Farm near Colliford Lake.

Consultant pathologist Dr Mark Smith said there was medical evidence that Mr Pearce had a serious heart condition, but he was not aware that it could cause sudden death at any time.