Location, Location, Location star Phil Spencer’s dad died of lung infection hours after car crash that killed wife
PHIL Spencer’s dad died from a lung injury in a horror crash that also killed his wife after their car plunged into a river, an inquest heard.
Richard, 89, was a passenger in the Toyota when it overturned near Lower Garrington Farm in Littlebourne, Kent.
He was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness, while Phil’s mum Anne Spencer, 82, was also tragically killed.
An inquest into Richard’s death heard today how he died from aspiration pneumonitis, which is a lung injury.
Location, Location, Location star Phil previously told how his parents were on their way to lunch when the horror unfolded.
Anne was driving her husband and their full-time live-in carer when the vehicle tipped over the edge of a bridge on their land.
The inquest heard all three were submerged in around three feet of water as the car overturned.
Both Richard – also known as David – and Anne were rushed to hospital after the August 18 tragedy but sadly couldn’t be saved.
Their carer managed to climb out the car and raise the alarm quickly.
Paying tribute previously, Phil said: “As a family we are all trying to hold on to the fact mum and dad went together and that neither will ever have to mourn the loss of the other one. Which is a blessing in itself.
“Although they were both on extremely good form in the days before (hence the sudden idea to go out to lunch), mum’s Parkinson’s and dad’s dementia had been worsening and the long-term future was set to be a challenge.
“So much so that mum said to me only a week ago that she had resigned to thinking ‘now it looks like we will probably go together’. And so they did.”
A full inquest into Richard’s death was adjourned until December 19 while a hearing into Anne’s death is yet to open.