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Mathilde and Roger Lamb inquests: Couple fell to deaths in Morocco | Mathilde and Roger Lamb inquests: Couple fell to deaths in Morocco |
(35 minutes later) | |
A father fighting depression killed himself on holiday in Morocco four days after witnessing the accidental death of his wife, an inquest has heard. | A father fighting depression killed himself on holiday in Morocco four days after witnessing the accidental death of his wife, an inquest has heard. |
Mathilde Lamb, 43, fell 60ft from her apartment window as she remonstrated with revellers celebrating Ramadan in the street below, the inquest heard. | Mathilde Lamb, 43, fell 60ft from her apartment window as she remonstrated with revellers celebrating Ramadan in the street below, the inquest heard. |
The coroner ruled she died accidentally while her husband Roger, 47, took his life jumping down a hotel stairwell in Essaouira on 21 August, 2011. | The coroner ruled she died accidentally while her husband Roger, 47, took his life jumping down a hotel stairwell in Essaouira on 21 August, 2011. |
Their deaths orphaned their children. | Their deaths orphaned their children. |
The inquest heard the couple, who were originally from the village of Pensham, Worcestershire, but had moved to Wiltshire, both died from their injuries in hospital. | The inquest heard the couple, who were originally from the village of Pensham, Worcestershire, but had moved to Wiltshire, both died from their injuries in hospital. |
Marriage on 'knife-edge' | Marriage on 'knife-edge' |
Coroner David Ridley at Trowbridge Coroner's Court, Wiltshire, said there was no evidence to the highest standard of proof to suggest foul play, anything suspicious or any third-party involvement. | Coroner David Ridley at Trowbridge Coroner's Court, Wiltshire, said there was no evidence to the highest standard of proof to suggest foul play, anything suspicious or any third-party involvement. |
The court heard the couple's marriage had been "on a knife-edge" and they were concerned with financial problems in the months before the holiday. | The court heard the couple's marriage had been "on a knife-edge" and they were concerned with financial problems in the months before the holiday. |
However, Mr Ridley said in Morocco the couple seemed relaxed. | |
"While on holiday, the comments were that Mr and Mrs Lamb were at ease. What we have here is a family enjoying themselves on holiday," he said. | |
"There is nothing to intimate that it was anything other than that." | |
The family had not drunk any alcohol during their stay in Morocco, he said. | |
On 17 August, Mathilde Lamb, who was known as Tilly, went to investigate a disturbance. | |
"Tilly climbed on to the sofa at the end of the window and put her foot on the lower rung of the window balustrade. She was trying to get a better view of what was happening," he said. | |
"Sadly, she lost her balance and tragically fell. On the way down she hit a canopy hoarding." | |
The couple's children, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were asleep during the incident, with Mr Lamb being the only witness, the court heard. | |
'Fragile person' | |
The hearing was told that shortly after his wife's death, Mr Lamb, a geotechnical civil engineer, had been stopped by locals from wading into the sea carrying a backpack full of rocks. | |
The alarm was raised when Mr Lamb failed to meet his children for breakfast a few days later. | |
It was then they discovered he had fallen from a stairwell at their new accommodation, a few streets away from where Mrs Lamb had fallen. | |
Coroner Mr Ridley said Mr Lamb, who suffered serious head injuries in the fall, "took his own life while suffering from depression". | |
The coroner said before the tragic loss of his wife, Mr Lamb was "already a fragile and vulnerable person". | |
'Suicidally low' | 'Suicidally low' |
The court heard Mr Lamb had been working in New Zealand since early 2010 and there were plans for the whole family to move there. | The court heard Mr Lamb had been working in New Zealand since early 2010 and there were plans for the whole family to move there. |
Mrs Lamb had reservations about emigrating, the hearing was told. | Mrs Lamb had reservations about emigrating, the hearing was told. |
Medical records read to the court said Mr Lamb had had trouble sleeping since 2010 and had also felt "suicidally low". | Medical records read to the court said Mr Lamb had had trouble sleeping since 2010 and had also felt "suicidally low". |
Friends said the Lambs used to have parties and a busy social life but Mr Lamb had recently become interested in living as a "new-age traveller". | Friends said the Lambs used to have parties and a busy social life but Mr Lamb had recently become interested in living as a "new-age traveller". |
Family members said in a statement read outside court the inquest had brought to an end a "what had been a harrowing period". | |
"We pray that [Mr and Mrs Lamb] may now rest in peace," the statement said. | "We pray that [Mr and Mrs Lamb] may now rest in peace," the statement said. |
"They were devoted and loving parents who succeeded in bringing up their lovely children, and the future of their children will remain the principal concern of both their families." | "They were devoted and loving parents who succeeded in bringing up their lovely children, and the future of their children will remain the principal concern of both their families." |