A talented young woman who had just come back from a ‘dream adventure’ to Mount Everest died when her car careered into the path of an ambulance, an inquest heard today.
Lauren McFarland, 30, lost control of her red Fiat Punto as she drove along the A66 near Keswick, in Cumbria, in January last year.
The accomplished horse rider, competitive trail runner and keen traveller was on her way to work in Penrith when she collided head-on with the ambulance, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard the vehicle was not on an emergency call and no patients were inside at the time of the accident.
A police collision investigator who examined the Punto found damage to a rear offside wheel rim, which had caused air to escape from the tyre.
Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said: ‘What we don’t know is whether or not this contributed to the collision and her loss of control.
‘It is possible the air was lost upon impact. But it is a possibility that it may have affected her ability to control the car.’
Alternatively, Ms McFarland may have been distracted by something inside or outside her vehicle, the investigator said.
Paramedic Abigail Routledge, who was driving the ambulance, said she had no time to react.
‘Out of the corner of my eye I saw a car coming towards me in the opposite direction,’ she said.
‘It was like I had binoculars on and it was zoomed in towards the car which I could see coming towards us. It was really quick.’
Both vehicles were travelling at around 50mph before the crash, at 8.45am on January 11 2024.
‘The car carried on and collided with our vehicle,’ Ms Routledge said. ‘We span, I think around four times, in the carriageway before coming to a halt. When we stopped I remember swearing. I was in complete shock.’
Both paramedics rushed to help Ms McFarland, who was on her way to her job as a sales consultant for travel firm Kandoo Adventures, at the time.
With the help of bystanders they pulled her from the Punto and began giving her CPR. A doctor and another crew of paramedics also attended to try to help.
But Ms McFarland had suffered multiple, traumatic injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tragically, a friend of Ms McFarland’s who was also driving to work was among the first to come upon the crash site.
Freya Graham recalled seeing the damaged ambulance and smoke, so stopped to try and help. She immediately recognised Ms McFarland’s Punto and distinctive trainers.
‘We were good friends,’ she told the hearing. ‘She was the nicest girl going. She never had a bad word to say about anyone.’
The coroner concluded that Ms McFarland died as a result of a road traffic collision.
The court heard Ms McFarland, who had a passion for horses, started riding at a very early age and went on to compete at a high level in national equestrian competitions.
‘This passion for horses remained with her throughout her entire life,’ her family said in a statement read to the inquest.
‘Lauren continued to compete in many different equestrian events supported by her family and friends, and she became locally and nationally the person to beat.’
The court heard Ms McFarland graduated with a degree in sports therapy from London Metropolitan University in 2015. She worked as a medical coder for the NHS but her love of the outdoors led to her switching careers to adventure travel.
Three months before she died she had visited Nepal as part of a Himalayan expedition.
After completing the charity trek, in November 2023, Ms McFarlane posted a video of herself at Everest Base Camp, saying: ‘Mission completed but the journey was what made it.’
In a tribute issued after her death, Ms McFarland’s family said: ‘She was a beautiful, confident and caring person who loved the outdoors and adventure.
‘She had a new job she loved and had just returned from her dream adventure to the Himalayas and Everest Base Camp.’
They added: ‘Lauren touched the hearts of everyone she met with her happy and outgoing personality.
‘She was, at last, in a happy place and was looking forward to a full and exciting future.
‘Prematurely taken away from us, she will be sadly missed by all who knew her.’
Kandoo Adventures also posted a tribute on Instagram after Ms McFarland’s death.
They said: ‘Lauren was a warm and caring person with an easy smile that would light up a room.
‘She had recently returned from Nepal and completed the Gokyo Lakes trek to Everest Base Camp on behalf of the charity Held in Our Hearts.
‘Lauren was a true adventurer whose eyes sparkled brightest when she was in the mountains or paddling across open water on her paddle board. The world was a better place with Lauren in it and she will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.’
Since Ms McFarland’s death, friends and family have taken part in several half marathons, triathlons and other challenges to raise money for her local mountain rescue team.
Close friend Francesca Sykes said: ‘We are continuing to live like Lauren – full of adventure and love. That is why we have raised money for Keswick Mountain Rescue.
‘Lauren was so incredibly kind. (She) would always want to help others but (was) also full of adventure, so raising money in her name for mountain rescue was fitting.’
