Harrowing details of how a couple died in a hot tub have emerged following a string of theories.
Patrick and Thomasina Tobin were holidaying in Cullera, Valencia, with their two teenagers when their bodies were found after their dip in the villa’s hot tub.
They were discovered in the early hours of August 25 by their 14-year-old, who has special needs, and their 16-year-old daughter, shortly before they were due to travel home.
With the children now being looked after back home in Greenwich, London, relatives have been desperately seeking answers to what went so horribly wrong.
Weeks after the incident, it seems the couple’s family is now closer to uncovering the truth, having learned that electrocution is the most likely cause of death, as reported by the Daily Mail.
This was determined by a Spanish coroner, following speculation that they could have died from chemical poisoning, overheating, or drowning after a malfunction trapped them in the tub.
Foul play and any third-party involvement were ruled out at the beginning.
It’s also been suggested that Thomasina, born and raised in the small county of Co Monaghan, Ireland, got into difficulty, after which her husband of almost 20 years tried to rescue her, leading to both of their deaths.
‘There was total confusion about how such an awful thing could have happened, and to some extent there still is,’ a friend said.
‘The police said it was some sort of [hot tub] accident, but we could not figure out how this could have happened and taken both of their lives.’
As per the coroner’s report, their loved ones now understand that ‘one of them was found in the [hot tub] and one of them was next to it’.
‘The assumption is that Paddy was trying to drag Thomasina out. She was really small, but he was still wet and was then electrocuted himself.’
Still, the late couple’s friends and relatives have questions and are awaiting answers as to who, if anyone, is responsible for what happened.
‘Of course this should never have happened, so I am sure there will be further action in the future,’ the pal added, explaining that, while they still do not have a ‘clear picture’, electrocution sounds ‘more plausible than a suction issue’.
Early findings from the scene do indicate that Patrick was fatally injured when coming to his wife’s aid, his wet arms ‘acting like a conductor for the electrical current’.
Surface injuries on their bodies further suggested there had been either a struggle or rescue attempt. Both had scratch marks, with Patrick’s more pronounced.
Patrick, from New Zealand, had recently been promoted to a management position at HCLTech’s London branch, while Thomasina worked as a quantity surveyor for luxury hotels.
They had been on holiday at Villa Luna for just two days when they died and had booked to stay in the coastal village for just over two weeks before their teens returned to school.
Their funerals are to be held next Friday, with most of the town expected to attend.
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