A CORONER has suggested there were no suspicious circumstances in the death of Witney's Catherine Shaw, confirming the position of the travelling yoga teacher's friends.
An inquest into the 23-year-old's death, which opened yesterday, heard that Ms Shaw died of 'multiple injuries', after a fall in Guatemala.
Oxford Coroner's Court was told that she was found on March 11, 2019, in the town San Juan La Laguna.
READ AGAIN: Friends say no foul play or suffering in Catherine's death
Ms Shaw, who lived in Long Hanborough and was travelling in the Central American nation, is thought to have died after an early morning meditation session.
Friends have said that her body was found near a scenic viewpoint and that she was fasting around the time of her death, which may have contributed to her losing her balance.
Her family have paid tribute to the backpacker and said she died 'doing what she loved'.
READ MORE: Family pay tribute to backpacker who 'died doing what she loved'
Coroner Darren Salter said yesterday: "There is a need for further investigation.
"The initial report says this young lady travelled to Guatemala.
"She was a spiritual person who loved nature."
He continued: "Local police and volunteers conducted a search and on March 11 her body was sadly discovered on a mountain track.
READ MORE: Witney reacts to news of Catherine Shaw, missing in Guatemala
"There are thought to be no suspicious circumstances.
"In anticipation of delays, arrangements were made for another post mortem... (which) gave the cause of death as multiple injuries."
A different report blamed a 'traumatic brain injury'.
READ AGAIN: Post-mortem finds death a result of 'traumatic brain injury'
The full inquest is due to be conducted on Wednesday, September 25, though Mr Salter said that "will depend on obtaining the report from Guatemala, so it might need to be put back."
The Lucie Blackman Trust, who have been fundraising to return Ms Shaw to her family, would not confirm whether her body had yet been flown home.
However, its fundraising target has been reached and her remains are expected to be returned to England.
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