A British backpacker died after falling from a mountain hiking trail in Guatemala as she went to watch the sunrise, an inquest has heard.

Yoga teacher Catherine Shaw had been hiking alone and her body was found several days after she was reported missing by friends.

Ms Shaw, 23, had removed her clothes and was believed to be fasting at the time of death in March this year.

Experts suggest she could have become disorientated before she fell while trekking in the south-western highlands of the Central American country.

On Thursday, Oxford Coroner’s Court heard that Ms Shaw died from multiple injuries, including haemorrhaging resulting from a traumatic brain injury.

At the time of her death, there was speculation about foul play but coroner Darren Salter said there were ‘no suspicious circumstances.’

The parents of Ms Shaw, of Witney, Oxfordshire, said their daughter was a very spiritual person and very comfortable with nudity and enjoyed being in nature.

She loved yoga, crystals and reiki healing and had travelled alone across Spain, Australia, India and Mexico.

Mr Salter said: ‘The likelihood is that Catherine was visiting, trekking on this mountain trail.

‘She was alone, and she was to view the sunrise near this viewpoint, and had decided to climb a section of this mountain.’

Ms Shaw was reported missing on March 7 this year, after last being seen in the town of San Juan La Laguna, on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

Police announced on Monday March 11 that her body had been found unclothed and in a state of decomposition near the viewpoint.

Her father Tarquin Shaw said his daughter was ‘quite capable’ of having removed her own clothing.

He added: ‘It’s unusual for a 23-year-old to not be body-conscious.

‘She believed in what she was presented with. She was confident and it was quite refreshing to see in a youngster. She was very comfortable in her own skin.’

A family statement, read out to the court, said Ms Shaw was ‘a vivacious, friendly, kind and adventurous person who made friends all over the world.

‘She loved mountains, waterfalls, sunrises and sunsets.’

Her short-term plan had been to explore a volcanic area before travelling to a festival in Colombia.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Mr Salter offered his condolences to Ms Shaw’s family, saying: ‘She was someone who led a very full and active life.’

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