Elderly holidaymaker walked six miles before drowning

Wednesday 20 June 2018

An elderly man visiting the island for his grandson's confirmation drowned after walking six miles across the north coast, according to an inquest into his death heard yesterday morning.

It found that 80-year-old Antonio Fernandes, who was visiting Jersey for his grandson’s First Communion, drowned in St Ouen’s Bay last June due to a pre-existing heart condition.

Mr Fernandes was said to have left his daughter’s house on Rue de Sorel, St. John, at approximately 16:00 on 22 June last year, before being reported missing by his family that evening. 

Despite efforts from the family to locate Mr Fernandes that evening, his body was found by a dog walker at around 06:00 the next morning in the L’Etacq area. 

Mr Fernandes' body was repatriated to his native Madeira for the funeral and burial.

Various witness statements, which were read into the record by Assistant Police Coroner’s Officer PC Glenn Cleave, allowed Police to map out the approximate route taken by Mr Fernandes on 22 June to cover the six mile distance between his daughter’s house and L’Etacq.

Pictured: The approximate route taken by Mr Fernandes the day before his death (Google Maps).

One witness, who reported their sighting of the elderly Madeiran national after seeing postings on the Police’s social media expressing concern for his welfare, described Mr Fernandes as “confused”, “unsteady on his feet” and “not with it."

The inquest also heard how, three days prior to Mr Fernandes being reported missing, he was found in the Ronez quarry area having apparently gotten lost and required assistance from Police in order to find his way back home. 

Former Consulting Histopathologist Dr Peter Southall, who conducted the post-mortem examination, said that the heart condition could have created the circumstances in which Mr Fernandes met his death.

Pictured: Police released this passport photo of Mr Fernandes.

Dr Southall said: “It is possible that he had a sudden collapse, causing an irregular heart rhythm rendering him unable to look after himself in the water.”

Mr Fernandes and his wife were intending to stay in the island for a few weeks following the confirmation of their grandson on 15 June.

In his summary, the Relief Coroner Advocate Cyril Whelan, presiding over the inquest, said that Mr Fernandes died by drowning and that his pre-existing heart condition possibly contributed to the circumstances of his death. Advocate Whelan concluded the proceedings by expressing “the condolences of the inquest to Mr Fernandes’ family and those who were close to him.”