A husband and wife who were on holiday celebrating their 58th anniversary both died after falling off a steep cliff. Retired couple John and Imogen Kesteven, from Middlesex, were reported missing by staff at the Devon hotel they had been staying in when they did not return after a day exploring the area.
The couple had left the hotel in Lynton, Devon, on August 31 last year to explore the local area after being given a free day in their coach holiday itinerary. An inquest into the pair's deaths at Exeter Coroners Court heard that police were alerted when they failed to return to the hotel and a helicopter search found their bodies at the base of a cliff in Lynmouth on September 2.
A post-mortem confirmed that both Mr Kesteven, 81, and Mrs Kesteven, 80, had died of multiple injuries that were consistent with a fall from height, DevonLive reports. Their injuries would have been "very rapidly fatal", the report found.
Detective Sergeant Ben Cartwright, who was the investigating officer, told the inquest the cliff has a narrow footpath that in some place was only around 2ft to 3ft from the edge of the cliff, which was steep and near vertical in some places. He said there was nothing to indicate the fall was a deliberate act and the couple had been in "good spirits" when they were last seen.
The inquest heard it was possible Mrs Kesteven had deviated from the path to collect plant cuttings and there were rhododendron leaves in her handbag and she had got into trouble. It was suggested her husband may have gone to help her or that one may have caused the other to fall.
DS Cartwright concluded the cause of the incident will never be known, but said: "The leading theory is it was an unfortunate accident." Evidence about the couple's health stated Mr Kesteven had osteoarthritis and had previously had hip replacements. He had begun to have difficulty with his knee and suffered some discomfort from walking but was 'not one to complain'.
Mrs Kesteven was diagnosed in January 2019 with Alzheimer's late onset in the early stages, but at her last GP review in June 2022 was described as having been 'very good' in mood, 'still very sharp', capable of driving and was independently able to enjoy walking and going to the gym.
In a statement, the couple's daughter Juliet Grey described Mr Kesteven, a retired architect, and Mrs Kesteven, a retired housing officer, as 'outdoorsy', very outgoing and extroverted people who made friends very easily. She added as her father had been raised by the sea he loved to be in wilder sea areas which had attracted him to North Devon, along with a passion for railways and nature.
Subscribe here for the latest news where you live
Regarding her parents' health, she said: "John's mobility was perhaps more compromised than he made out and I know it was not great. Imogen was very active and loved to walk. She was fast and nimble but perhaps her balance was not what it was."
She added it was her belief that on the day they died, there was a 'strong chance' they may have overstretched themselves and became tired and maybe tripped while holding hands or in locked arms as they were 'devoted to one another' and that one would have instinctively gone to help the other.
Mrs Grey said: "They appeared young for their ages and overestimated their physical abilities and strength and were perhaps a little risk-taking on adventures."
She added they had been making future plans and had been looking forward to attending their granddaughter's wedding the following month.
Evidence was also heard from the manager of the Valley of the Rocks Hotel who saw the couple before they left for their walk on August 31. She recalled them telling her they would not be going on the coach that day - despite it being a free day - due to a family emergency.
Police confirmed that after investigating the matter they were not able to find out what they had been referring to because no evidence of an emergency had been uncovered.
The couple's son David told the coroner that following their death, he had visited the clifftop they had fallen from and said he had found rhododendrons on the path like was found in his mother's handbag. Mrs Grey added that it was only after their death that she found out from her father's friend that his knee sometimes collapsed and was unsteady.
Senior coroner Philip Spinney said: "The evidence I have heard does not support the conclusion they deliberately fell from the cliff. Probably the fall was unintentional and an accident, but it is not possible to determine how they came to fall."
Recording a narrative conclusion for both deaths, he said: "[They] died from injuries sustained in a fall from height." Addressing their family, he said: "To lose both parents in this way must be very difficult to bear."
