The couple found dead beside a jacuzzi at a luxury holiday villa in Valencia have been identified as Irish woman Thomasina Tobin and her New Zealand-born husband Patrick Tobin.
Thomasina, 51, and Patrick, 48, were discovered by their teenage children at the family’s rented villa in Cullera on Tuesday.
Post-mortem examinations have since ruled out violent deaths, with investigators now concentrating on whether a technical malfunction involving the jacuzzi triggered a fatal chain of events.
Toxicology results are still pending and the definitive causes of death have not yet been established, reports The Irish Times.
The family had travelled to the popular resort for a summer holiday and were staying in a villa in the Cap Blanc area overlooking the coast.
Thomasina was originally from Castleblayney in County Monaghan. The couple had been living in London for around two decades.
Children made horrifying discovery
The couple’s teenage children discovered their parents’ bodies on Tuesday afternoon and raised the alarm.
Spanish reports indicate forensic experts believe the couple may already have been dead for around 12 hours before they were found.
The children, who do not speak Spanish, were assisted by Cullera’s social services following the discovery. Relatives then travelled from Ireland to care for them.
Early concerns that the couple could have suffered violent deaths were prompted partly by small wounds or puncture-like marks found on at least one of the bodies.
However, investigators found no evidence of forced entry into the villa, while checks of security footage produced no indication that a third party had entered the property.
Did jacuzzi malfunction trigger tragedy?
One of the principal lines of investigation is whether a malfunction involving the jacuzzi caused the first death before the other spouse died attempting a rescue.
According to Spanish reports, investigators are examining the possibility that Thomasina may have become unable to escape the jacuzzi, potentially because of a problem with its suction system or after suffering a medical emergency.
Patrick may then have attempted to rescue his wife before himself suffering a fatal accident.
Among the possibilities being examined are electrocution, exposure to toxic fumes or another medical emergency.
Investigators have examined the jacuzzi’s suction system and taken samples of its water for analysis.
Who was Thomasina Tobin?
Thomasina was a successful construction industry executive who had built her career in London after graduating from Trinity College Dublin.
She worked as a chartered quantity surveyor and held a senior position at global professional services company Turner & Townsend.
Her work had included major construction projects involving some of London’s best-known hotels, including The Ritz and Shangri-La at The Shard, according to the Irish Examiner.
She also came from a prominent family in County Monaghan with strong links to both the arts and Gaelic football.
Her father, Tommy McArdle, is a playwright and producer who worked in television and theatre, including on Irish broadcaster RTE’s Glenroe. He also played Gaelic football for Monaghan alongside his twin brother John.
