A inquest into the death of a 69-year old woman, resulting from her falling into a stream at Clogher Valley Country Caravan Park in April last year, was held in Enniskillen yesterday.

The Coroner, John Leckey, sitting at Enniskillen Courthouse, found that Mary Elizabeth Jackson from Seacoast Road, Limavady died in the early hours of 5th April 2005 at the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen and recorded drowning as the cause of death.

FELL OVER

The court heard that the deceased fell over the parapet of a bridge in Clogher Valley Caravan Park while in the company of her husband.

The alarm was raised and two men went to her aid and managed to pull her from the stream.

Resuscitation was carried out at the scene until the ambulance crew arrived and took Mrs Jackson to the Erne Hospital where she died early the next day.

The inquest heard evidence from the deceased's husband, James Jackson who described how he and his wife May went to the Clogher Valley Caravan Park on 4th April last year.

About 9.55pm, Mr Jackson recalled, he and his wife walked to the toilet block, a distance of about 500 yards from where their caravan was.

WIFE

On the way back, he described how his wife was on his right hand side, as he wore a hearing aid, but when he arrived back at the caravan, Mr Jackson noticed his wife wasn't with him.

He walked back towards the toilet block to look for her.

The witness described how the complete caravan park was in darkness.

He said he looked over the side of a small bridge they had crossed and saw his wife's white jacket in the water below.

Mr Jackson raised the alarm and two men rescued Mrs Jackson from the water. Mr Jackson said he saw a mark on his wife's head and he insisted there weren't any lights on at the time.

The inquest also heard evidence from Sidney Somerville, the owner of the caravan park.

He told the inquest that he was in his caravan at 10 o'clock when Mr Jackson knocked on the door and told him his wife had fallen into the river.

HELP

Mr Somerville said he himself then got into the water and helped another man, Mr Buchanan, take Mrs Jackson from the water.

The witness was then asked if the caravan park was illuminated.

Mr Somerville said there was some illumination in the area, including a light on the outside of his caravan.

Mr Somerville's wife, Olive, said she alerted Alexander Buchanan to the fact that a woman had fallen into the river.

Mr Buchanan told the inquest he went to the river and Sidney Somerville was already in there.

He helped retrieve Mrs Jackson from the water and started resuscitation until the ambulance arrived.

STRUCK HEAD

The Coroner, Mr Leckey, noted that the deceased had fallen from some height and seemed to strike her head on the weir.

He said the water was very cold at that time of year and these were among a number of factors that contributed to her death.

Mr Leckey queried the height of the sides on the bridge and he was told they had been increased in height since the incident.

The inquest was told that the Health and Safety Executive were informed about the accident, but that they didn't compile a report.