A husband and wife died in a tragic hot tub accident during a family vacation in Spain, with investigators now saying electrocution is the most likely cause.
Patrick and Thomasina Tobin were vacationing in Cullera, near Valencia, with their two children, ages 16 and 14, when the tragedy happened on Aug. 25.
The couple had only been on vacation for two days.
Their children discovered them after the incident and called a relative before finding a neighbor, who contacted emergency services.
Patrick and Thomasina were pronounced dead at the scene.
For weeks, relatives were left searching for answers as several possible causes were considered, including drowning, overheating and chemical poisoning.
Now, a Spanish coroner has reportedly said electrocution appears to be the most likely explanation.
Initial autopsy findings reportedly showed both died from cardiopulmonary arrest.
A family friend said one of the couple was found inside the hot tub while the other was beside it.
Investigators reportedly believe Thomasina may have gotten into trouble in the water and Patrick tried to pull her out.
Preliminary evidence suggested Patrick’s wet arms may have acted as a conductor for the electrical current as he attempted to rescue his wife.
“The assumption is that Paddy was trying to drag Thomasina out,” a family friend said. “She was really small, but he was still wet and was then electrocuted himself.”
Both Patrick and Thomasina were also reportedly found with scratch marks on their bodies.
The exact sequence of events remains under investigation, and relatives are still waiting for a complete explanation of how the electrical accident could have happened.
“There was total confusion about how such an awful thing could have happened, and to some extent there still is,” the family friend said.
The couple’s two children were cared for by the Spanish Red Cross and Cullera City Council following the deaths and were offered psychological support. They are reportedly now being cared for by relatives in London.
Thomasina was born and raised in County Monaghan, Ireland, while Patrick was originally from New Zealand. The couple lived together in London.
Patrick had recently received a promotion with the London division of technology company HCLTech.
Thomasina worked as a quantity surveyor in the luxury hotel industry.
The family had planned to spend a little more than two weeks in Valencia before the children returned to school.
Instead, their vacation ended in tragedy just two days after they arrived.
Loved ones now hope further investigation will explain exactly what went wrong and whether anyone could be held responsible.
