The death of Chesterfield borough councillor Stephen Lismore, who became trapped in a hole while abseiling a frozen waterfall on holiday has been ruled accidental.

Derbyshire senior coroner Peter Nieto said in a record of inquest the 71-year-old entered a hole in the ice during a descent by abseil on 7 February and "became trapped in the hole in very cold water."

In his conclusion, the coroner said Mr Lismore died due to hypothermia and ruled his death an accident.

The coroner said Lismore travelled to Cogne in the Aosta Valley for the climbing holiday with his club.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Steve passed away in Cogne, Italy, following an accident on a winter climbing trip, aged 71. After moving to Aberystwyth in 1978 for university, he arrived in Old Whittington in 1983 with his then wife Jenifer. A Labour borough councillor for the Staveley North ward, he served as cabinet member for health and wellbeing, and led a range of services from community safety to parks and open spaces, and sport and leisure, with great passion and commitment.

placeholder image — Born in Toronto, Canada, Steve passed away in Cogne, Italy, following an accident on a winter climbing trip, aged 71. After moving to Aberystwyth in 1978 for university, he arrived in Old Whittington in 1983 with his then wife Jenifer. A Labour borough councillor for the Staveley North ward, he served as cabinet member for health and wellbeing, and led a range of services from community safety to parks and open spaces, and sport and leisure, with great passion and commitment.

On the day they arrived, he and his clubmates went to a nearby frozen waterfall to abseil down its face.

The BBC reported that although he was not directly observed at the time, Mr Lismore entered a hole in the ice while descending the abseil, which "would have been accidental".

The record states members of the club tried to rescue their friend but were unable to reach him.

The mountain rescue service used a helicopter to pull him out but he was "unresponsive and could not be resuscitated and was pronounced deceased at the scene".

Due to the time he was in very cold water, Mr Lismore had become fatally hypothermic, the coroner added.

A number of people including the leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and the town's MP Toby Perkins, paid tribute following his death.

Mr Lismore's family said he was "warm, outgoing, and effortlessly at ease with strangers".