A YOUNG couple drowned in flash floods while hiking after a “massive wall of water” appeared within “seconds”, an inquest heard.
Alexander Barrett, 32, and Sarah Thompson, 26, were on holiday in Majorca with a group of friends when tragedy struck on September 3, last year.
Climbing instructor and lifeguard Alexander tried to help his girlfriend as a “wall of water” came crashing down the canyon they were walking with other hikers, Stockport Coroner’s Court heard.
The couple, from Offerton, near Stockport in Manchester , were swept away.
Spanish rescue teams discovered Sarah’s body the following day.
Specialist officers located Alexander’s on September 6, in the Torrent de Pareis canyon, in the Tramuntana mountains.
At the inquest, Sarah’s devastated father Peter Thompson, said his daughter “was never without a smile on her face”.
And Alexander’s heartbroken dad, Paul Rodman, told how his son “loved life”.
Paying tribute, he said: “He was genuinely a good person, a caring person, a kind person.
“The friends and family have developed a little saying, ‘Be more like Alex’ because that’s what we aspire to be.
“He’s missed so much by all his friends and family.”
Alexander’s friend Luke Weaver, who was on the trip with the tragic couple said: “We all had a mutual passion for climbing and hiking.”
He told the inquest how the group had planned a three hour expedition, which was known to be “challenging in places”.
Mr Weaver had already completed the route several times, but neither Alexander nor Sarah had.
The fellow climbing instructor, who had worked with Alexander, said he checked weather predictions in the morning.
He knew the gorge had flooded, but the forecast only showed rain hitting at 6pm, by which time they’d no longer be in the area.
“Had I known what was to happen, I would never have let them into the gorge,” Mr Weaver added.
The hiker dropped the group off by car, but was delayed in joining them due to hitting traffic while trying to park.
He noticed it starting to rain at around 2.30pm but became concerned when a storm moved in shortly after.
Mr Weaver said he saw his friends, who were now with a German couple and two Spanish nationals, in a “bottleneck” between two boulders.
“At this point the heavens opened,” he said.
“At this time the water was flowing like a small river.”
He went to help the group and asked Sarah if she was “OK” and she replied yes but with a “nervous smile”.
“Seconds later a massive wall of water came down the gorge,” Mr Weaver said.
“The water appeared to come from nowhere. The sound was incredibly loud, people were screaming.”
Mr Weaver told the inquest he saw one person clinging onto a rock, but one of the Spanish nationals had been swept away.
His partner managed to get out of the water and after a few minutes others emerged gasping for air above the surface.
Survivors were airlifted out of the gorge by helicopter, suffering only minor injuries.
But Alexander and Sarah had been taken by the current, the inquest heard.
Mr Weaver added: “Everyone who survived that day is incredibly lucky, especially those who got caught in the water.
“I have never experienced anything like this and it is something I will never forget.”
Post-mortem examinations gave the cause of death as drowning for both of the deceased.
Jyoti Gill, assistant coroner for Manchester South, recorded a verdict of accidental death caused by drowning for the couple.
“It appears water dragged Sarah, and Alex had tried to help her,” Ms Gill concluded.
“Sadly, both Sarah and Alex were unable to climb to safety and were swept away by the floodwaters,” she added.
Sarah had represented Cumbria at fell running in national competitions.
She earned a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University, and had recently been promoted in the donations team at The Christie hospital in Manchester.
