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'Middle aged gap year' Briton dies taking selfie at Indian temple 'Middle aged gap year' Briton dies taking photos at Indian temple
(about 3 hours later)
A British man on the final leg of a so-called "middle-aged gap year" with his wife has fallen to his death in India. A British man on the final leg of a so-called "middle-aged gap year" with his wife has fallen to his death in India, moments after taking photographs.
Local reports said Roger Stotesbury was trying to take a selfie at a temple in Orchha, about 160 miles south of the Taj Mahal, when he plummeted roughly 30ft (9m) on Friday. Roger Stotesbury's family said the documentary maker had just finished taking some shots of the scenery from a temple in Orchha, about 160 miles south of the Taj Mahal, when he plummeted roughly 30ft (9m) on Friday.
The Times of India said Mr Stotesbury, from Oxford, was "standing almost on the edge of a wall on the second floor of the temple" when he fell. Mr Stotesbury, a father of two grown-up children from Oxford, was travelling with wife Hilary when tragedy struck. They had been due to return to the UK after completing their Indian adventure.
The documentary-maker, a father-of-two who said he wanted to "die young as late as possible", was in the last few weeks of his travels around the world with his wife Hilary. A family spokesman told the Press Association: "Roger took lots and lots of photographs, and he had gone to take some views from the temple.
"He put his equipment down and then he fell."
The spokesman added: "They were the most happily married couple I have ever known. They were just so devoted to each other."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing assistance to the family of a British man following his tragic death in India on October 13.A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are providing assistance to the family of a British man following his tragic death in India on October 13.
"Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time.""Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time."
Writing on their blog, ourmiddleagedgapyear.wordpress.com, the couple said they were renting out their home and trying to live on £100 a day.Writing on their blog, ourmiddleagedgapyear.wordpress.com, the couple said they were renting out their home and trying to live on £100 a day.
They said: "We are Hilary and Roger a married couple from England/Scotland who are in their mid fifties.They said: "We are Hilary and Roger a married couple from England/Scotland who are in their mid fifties.
"Hilary's motto is 'just do it' whilst Roger's is 'to die young as late as possible'."Hilary's motto is 'just do it' whilst Roger's is 'to die young as late as possible'.
"We took the view that on your deathbed you never wish you'd spent more time in the office."We took the view that on your deathbed you never wish you'd spent more time in the office.
"We've seen our two kids off into the wider world and we have no more caring responsibilities for our parents."We've seen our two kids off into the wider world and we have no more caring responsibilities for our parents.
"So we thought now is the time to take a gap year and travel whilst we still have the health and energy. After all you only live once.""So we thought now is the time to take a gap year and travel whilst we still have the health and energy. After all you only live once."
The couple started with a two-month tour of Italy before taking in south and north America, Australia, and several Asian countries. India was intended to be their final stop, according to the blog.The couple started with a two-month tour of Italy before taking in south and north America, Australia, and several Asian countries. India was intended to be their final stop, according to the blog.
Describing their motivations for the project, they said: "Rather than drift into comfortable retirement we wanted to do something different.Describing their motivations for the project, they said: "Rather than drift into comfortable retirement we wanted to do something different.
"Also there are many parts of the world we want to see and we figured continual travel would be more of a switch off and better value for money."Also there are many parts of the world we want to see and we figured continual travel would be more of a switch off and better value for money.
"One aim is to experience countries as travellers rather than time-conscious tourists."One aim is to experience countries as travellers rather than time-conscious tourists.
"We had kids soon after we married so hadn't travelled much as a couple and wanted to experience living abroad for an extended time.""We had kids soon after we married so hadn't travelled much as a couple and wanted to experience living abroad for an extended time."
The couple posted pictures of their visit to the Taj Mahal on their website, a day before the tragedy.The couple posted pictures of their visit to the Taj Mahal on their website, a day before the tragedy.
An inquest this week heard how a south-east Asian tourist in the UK fell to her death while taking selfies at Sussex's notorious Seven Sisters cliff-face in June.An inquest this week heard how a south-east Asian tourist in the UK fell to her death while taking selfies at Sussex's notorious Seven Sisters cliff-face in June.
Press Association Press Association