A multimillionaire businessman who fell from a cliff above the River Wharfe near Boston Spa while riding his Segway scooter probably died due to an “act of courtesy” to a fellow dog walker, a coroner has said.

An inquest in Leeds heard that Jimi Heselden fell 42ft from a footpath as he was taking his dog for a walk close to his home in September last year. Mr Heselden had bought the European licence for the Segway a few years before but was better known as a philanthropist and the successful owner of Hesco Bastion, which builds containers used to protect troops around the world.

Camp Bastion in Afghanistan is named after his firm, the inquest heard. Dog walker Sean Christie told the coroner he was walking near Jackdaw Crag, by the river, when he saw Mr Heselden at the top of a steep incline apparently weighing up how he was going to tackle the sloping footpath on his X2, which is a rough terrain version of the Segway.

Mr Christie said that, from 40ft to 50ft away, he saw the businessman move a short distance backwards in a movement he assumed was to make room for him to pass.

He said Mr Heselden appeared to wobble and then went out of view.

Mr Christie said he found 62-year-old Mr Heselden face down and lifeless in the river below.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff told Mr Heselden’s family: “I think it’s probable – I think typical of Jimi and the type of man he was – he held back and waited as an act of courtesy to allow Mr Christie more room.

“In so doing, he’s attempted to reverse the Segway back.

“As a result of that, he’s got into difficulty.”