A man who died in a fall from the highest point at Ilkley’s Cow and Calf rocks on Friday has been identified.

An inquest was opened at Bradford Coroner’s Court yesterday on Graeme Pykett, 42, of Abbeydale Grove, Kirkstall, Leeds.

Mr Pykett, 42, died instantly after falling from the top of the main buttress of the Cow rock.

The accident at the beauty spot happened at around 12.30pm and shocked tourists witnessed the fall from a height of around 50 feet.

Emergency services, including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, were quickly on the scene but, despite efforts to revive him, Mr Pykett was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem examination has been carried out but the cause of death has not been definitely established. Samples have been taken and sent away for toxicology analysis.

A member of the Coroner’s team said that investigations were continuing into the circumstances of the incident and the inquest would be resumed at a later date.

Jason Theaker, of Otley, had been walking in the area at the time and taking photographs.

He said: “As I was walking up here he just fell off the rock, about three metres from me. He just fell right next to me. I am a bit shaken.”

Brenda Bolland had been visiting the area with her husband, Martin. She said: “I was taking photographs. I took one of the big rock, and I turned back around and heard this almighty crash. I saw him roll to the bottom of the hill.”

The area is popular with climbers but witnesses said the victim was not a climber and was wearing ordinary clothing.

They said they saw him walking along the top of the rocks then standing at the edge of the highest point just before toppling to the ground below. There appeared to be nobody with him at the time.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said that she had seen three tourists walking up towards the largest rock before running back down to alert everyone about the accident.

Police sealed off the area with tape while investigations into the incident were carried out.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to reports that a man had fallen at the Cow and Calf rocks in Ilkley at about 1.30pm on Friday.

“Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene and at this stage, it is not believed there were any suspicious circumstances involved.”