The deaths of Thomasina and Patrick Tobin, who were found lifeless in a hot tub at their Spanish holiday villa on August 25, are likely the result of electrocution, according to a family friend speaking on behalf of the Spanish coroner. The couple, who resided in London and were on a summer holiday with their two teenage children, were discovered at Villa Luna in Cullera, south of Valencia.
Initial theories had ranged from chemical poisoning and overheating to drowning caused by a hot tub malfunction. However, the ongoing investigation by Spanish authorities has now focused on electrocution. It is believed that Patrick Tobin died while attempting to rescue his wife, Thomasina, after she experienced difficulty in the water. His body was found beside the hot tub, suggesting he was electrocuted after entering the water or coming into contact with a live element while trying to pull his wife out.
The couple's children, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl with mild special needs, discovered their parents' bodies around 5 a.m. after they failed to emerge for a planned sunrise trip to the beach. The teenagers alerted relatives, who then contacted emergency services. Paramedics pronounced the couple dead at the scene.
Thomasina Tobin, 51, was a quantity surveyor for luxury hotels, and Patrick Tobin was a manager at the London branch of HCLTech. The family had traveled to Spain on August 22 for a two-week holiday.
The investigation is examining potential liabilities related to the holiday home owners and the hot tub manufacturer. Lawyers for the owners of the Colina Del Sol holiday complex, where Villa Luna is located, have stated that the unit was functioning correctly and that no customer had previously reported a malfunction. The CEO of Goccia Spa, the company that supplied a hot tub installed at the villa in 2019, indicated that the warranty had expired and suggested liability might lie with the owner.
Meanwhile, the focus remains on supporting the orphaned teenage children, who have returned to their family home in London under the care of relatives. The community in Castleblayney, Ireland, where Thomasina Tobin grew up, is preparing to hold a funeral service for the couple.