A Bradford man who died at York Races on Saturday was seen sitting on a stairway banister shortly before he fell 30ft to his death on to the marble floor, an inquest heard.

Jack Yates, 21, of Queensbury, had gone to Knavesmire with a group of friends for the second York meeting of the year.

At 5.30pm, shortly after the last race, paramedics were called to the Knavesmire Stand and despite their efforts and that of a doctor who was at the races, Mr Yates was declared dead at the scene.

Opening the inquest into his death, York Coroner Donald Coverdale said that at 5.28pm, Mr Yates was seen to be sitting on a polished wooden handrail at the top of some stairs.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had multiple injuries, but the cause of death cannot be established until medical scientists carry out further tests.

Mr Coverdale yesterday adjourned the hearing to a date to be arranged. North Yorkshire Police are preparing a report for the coroner.