Mold woman’s death in Corfu ‘accidental’, inquest concludes

A woman drowned in the sea while on holiday as she was enjoying time in the water with her son, an inquest has heard.

Emma Slack, 54, from Mold, Flintshire, got into difficulties in what the Greek authorities described as “intense wave action” in Roda, on the north coast of Corfu, on 9 July.

In a statement her husband Rob Slack said that he had tried to rescue his wife, along with his son, after she “lost her footing” and was “pulled by the undercurrent” towards rocks.

He said that Mrs Slack, a training adviser, was a “competent swimmer” who was “aware and sensible and would never knowingly put herself or her son in danger”. Others had been enjoying the waves “without incident,” he added.

Mr Slack also noted that the nearest lifeguard station was unmanned at the time. He believed that the area could have had warning signs and been closed off due to the adverse conditions.

Delivering a conclusion of accidental death, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central), said that although he echoed Mr Slack’s views regarding signage and lifeguard provision at the beach, his authority to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report did not extend outside the UK.

He told Mr Slack, who attended the hearing via video link, that Mrs Slack had not taken any undue risk and that this was “simply a tragic accident.”

He acknowledged the difficulties Mr Slack must have faced since his wife’s death, and expressed his condolences, particularly he said, on the approach to Christmas.