A prominent international businessman from Chingford died after falling from a height during a corporate skiing trip in Poland, an inquest has heard.
Stephen John McBride, 40, of Woodbury Way, passed away on 25 October 2024 while on a team-building trip organised by his company, Discover International. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
Mr McBride was joint CEO of the global recruitment firm, which operates across multiple international locations, including London, Krakow, Mexico City, Barbados, Miami, and Denver. The company specialises in recruitment for the life sciences sector, and Mr McBride had served as a director since 2013.
Tragic Fall During Ski Trip
At a hearing on Friday, 11 April, Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine told East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow that Mr McBride had died following a fall from a height while on a skiing excursion in the resort town of Białka Tatrzańska, southern Poland.
The inquest heard that there was no evidence to suggest the fall was intentional, with the coroner noting:
“There does not appear to be any evidence before me that Mr McBride’s actions were a deliberate act to end his life or cause himself harm.”
A post-mortem examination conducted on 19 November found the cause of death to be “multiple traumatic injuries” consistent with a fall.
International Investigation Efforts
The coroner confirmed he would formally request assistance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to obtain critical evidence from the Polish authorities, including any details from local police investigations, pathology reports, or medical examinations carried out in Poland.
“I will impose upon the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to acquire for me any details of any police investigation in Poland, any details of any pathological investigation in Poland, and any medical investigation in Poland,” Mr Irvine said.
As coroners in England and Wales do not hold jurisdiction over foreign authorities, the court must rely on voluntary cooperation from overseas agencies to progress the case.
Family Involved in Proceedings
Mr McBride’s family has been granted “interested person” status in the inquest, meaning they are legally entitled to view evidence collected by the court and to question any witnesses who may be called.
A full inquest into Mr McBride’s death has been provisionally scheduled for 9 October 2025.
The tragic loss of Mr McBride has been deeply felt across the global business community, where he was known for his leadership and commitment to life sciences innovation.
