The sad case of the British holidaymaker who died of her injuries after falling down a well at the Arade dam near Silves has been recorded as ‘accidental death.’
Andrew Haigh, the senior coroner for Staffordshire South, UK, commented that the precise sequence of events last June was difficult to confirm and concluded that the death of Christine Whitehouse was a ‘genuine tragic accident.’
Mrs Whitehouse had entered a fenced area at the dam and had stood on the cover of a well to be in a position to take better photographs.
Her husband Anthony said at the inquest that Christine was taking pictures at the dam seconds before the tragedy, and the couple had passed through a gate to get some better shots.
As Mrs Whitehouse stood on the cover of the well it gave way and she fell.
Mr Whitehouse described hearing a ‘clang’ and saw his wife disappear down the well, “I saw the top of my wife’s head disappearing down the hole and the cover opening up. “Her eyes were closed and she didn’t make a sound.
Her husband and two friends saw the accident and immediately summoned help.
An emergency team used specialist hoist equipment to lower two men down the well to attempt to revive the woman but she was found to be dead.
Mrs Whitehouse was staying at the family villa in Albufeira with her husband and two friends and had visited Silves and then the Arade dam.
“I have been back to the site numerous times, they are heavy covers - it just doesn’t make any sense at all,” said Mr Whitehouse.
“We went past to see the view and the dam equipment. Christine was taking photographs, like she always did."
“When we went back to the site my son pointed to a pole and said, ‘that’s what killed mum’.
“The size of the pipe matched the bruise on her head. She fell forward and must have hit her head and fell down the hole.”
Coroner Andrew Haigh recorded his verdict as one of accidental death.
See also:
http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/2618-briton-dies-in-arade-dam-accident
