An Irish woman who was found dead alongside her husband in a jacuzzi at a rented villa in Spain has been named as Thomasina McArdle.
The 51-year-old chartered quantity surveyor from Monaghan, was found dead alongside her husband at a rented villa near Valencia.
Ms McArdle had lived in London for around two decades. Her husband, Patrick Tobin, was aged 48 and was originally from New Zealand.
The couple’s bodies were discovered by their two children, aged 14 and 15, at the rented property in the Cullera Cap Blanc development near Valencia on Tuesday.
The development is one of the more exclusive residential areas of Cullera and is located on the slopes of Faro Mountain. It is understood the teenagers sought help from a neighbour, who contacted Spain’s emergency services.
Ms McArdle was the daughter of Tommy McArdle, a well-known playwright who, alongside his twin brother John, co-founded the Ballintra Players drama group in Monaghan in the 1960s.
It is also understood that Thomasina’s brother, John, is the current assistant treasurer of the Monaghan GAA County Board.
Initial postmortem findings are reportedly consistent with the possibility of an accidental chain of events, although the precise cause of death has yet to be established.
The Guardia Civil initially investigated the deaths as potentially violent after indications of injuries were found on at least one of the bodies.
However, Spanish investigators are now understood to be focusing on the possibility of a fatal sequence of accidents involving the jacuzzi.
Spanish newspaper El País reports that investigators believe one of the victims may have suffered a sudden medical episode or accident while in the jacuzzi and that the other may have died while attempting to help.
Initial postmortem findings are reportedly consistent with the possibility of an accidental chain of events, although the precise cause of death has yet to be established.
Investigators are awaiting toxicology results and are also examining whether there was a technical fault with the hot tub.
Local reports have said that at least one of the bodies had puncture marks on the skin.
Investigators reportedly believe the injuries could be consistent with a fall, with one person potentially slipping and injuring themselves before the other was hurt while attempting to help. Another possibility being examined is that the jacuzzi itself malfunctioned.
According to El País, investigators are considering whether a technical failure could have prevented Ms McArdle from getting out of the jacuzzi.
Her husband may then have suffered an electric shock while attempting to rescue her, while investigators are also examining whether the inhalation of a gas or other substance could have contributed to the deaths.
Possible contamination of the jacuzzi water is also being investigated.
The bodies were taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Valencia for postmortem examinations.
However, investigators have stressed that the reconstruction of events and any possible cause of death will not be conclusive until toxicology results are available.
The couple’s relatives are understood to have travelled to Spain following the deaths to be with their children, who are staying at a nearby hotel. The investigation remains ongoing.