AN EXPERIENCED kite surfer died when he was thrown into a sea wall by a freak gust of wind, an inquest heard.

Mark Paxton, 42, was preparing to take to the water off Point Clear when the tragedy unfolded.

The dad-of-one suffered “traumatic injuries” as he was dragged across the beach by a sudden gust and hit the sea wall.

Despite the efforts of paramedics he was declared dead at the scene.

Chelmsford Coroner’s Court heard on May 12 how Mr Paxton had swapped to a smaller, safer kite due to high winds and was standing on the beach moments before the tragedy.

As he prepared to get back on the water he asked fellow surfer Joanna Kalpinas to help him launch.

When she released the kite, after Mark gave her the thumbs up, the wind suddenly dropped and it tumbled towards the ground.

A gust of about 45mph then picked back up and dragged him into the 2ft high concrete seawall.

Speaking at the inquest in Chelmsford, Ms Kalpinas, who had not met Mark before the tragedy, said: “The main thing I remember is it just fell out of the sky and the kite ended up by the wall.

“Then the wind picked up and the kite went back into the air and that was when he was dragged along the beach.

“He was dragged into the seawall and he hit it with his right shoulder.”

She said Mark did not speak as he was given first aid by an onlooker.

A golf club grounds manager from Harlow, he was married to Andrea.

The couple also have a son called Jack.

His widow was at the inquest and heard Mark was conscious and breathing when beachgoers first arrived at the scene.

However, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest.

He died from multiple injuries despite the lengthy efforts from rescue teams on the morning of February 21.

No evidence was called from the paramedics who attended the shocking scene.

Caroline Beasley-Murray, senior coroner, read a note from his widow at the start of the inquest which said on the day of his death: “He was looking forward to kitesurfing and was extremely experienced.”

Addressing Mark’s family and friends, Mrs Beasley-Murray added: “It was the most tragic of accidents.”