Woman dies after falling 30ft through gap in British landmark
An elderly woman died after falling through a gap in a wall and plunging 30ft into a river near a British landmark.
Kay Wilson, 78, slipped through a gap in a stonewall at Barnard Castle in Durham County, before she fell into the River Tees below and drowning.
Kay was on the east bank of the river when she landed on some rocks and was carried off with the current.
The incident happened at around 11.30pm on December 6 last year, but a coroner earlier this month suggested her death could have been prevented.
Senior coroner Jeremy Chipperfield said at an inquest on March 6 that Kay had died by accidental drowning, and wrote a prevention of future deaths report to Durham County Council.
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Mr Chipperfield’s report said there was a breach in the stone wall running from north to east above the river, which provides ‘unrestricted and unguarded access’ to a severe vertical drop.
‘In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action,’ he said in the report to Durham County Council.
‘You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by May 1 2026.
‘I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action.
‘Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed.’
The council’s head of highways, Mark Readman, said the local authority would carefully consider the concerns raised in the report.
He said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Ms Wilson’s family.
‘We have received the coroner’s report and will respond following careful consideration of the concerns raised.’
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