Gozo tragedy: Husband says he tried to grab wife as she fell

The husband of a woman who yesterday fell to her death in Wied Mielah, Gozo, spoke of how he tried to grab her as she lost her balance at the top of the cliff.

40-year-old Briton Sarah Lawrie died when she fell some 25 metres down the scenic valley into the sea.

The tragedy was witnessed by a group of New Zealanders who were described by a Gozitan who was accompanying them as having been in ‘total panic'.

John Lawrie, the distressed husband of the victim, told people who rushed to assist him that he had only been married to Sarah for a year and he had decided to bring her to Gozo because he loved the island - this was his fourth visit.

Mr Lawrie and his wife had been biking, but stopped for 30 minutes to enjoy the scenery. As they got up for a walk, Sarah stumbled on the cliff edge and fell.

Mr Lawrie said he tried to grab her, but failed. He called her several times but got no reply.

He saw her floating in the sea, but by the time he ran towards some people for help, he could no longer see her.

An AFM helicopter and a rescue launch were deployed to help Civil Protection Department rescuers in their search. The lifeless body was found by the helicopter crew a short time after and recovered by the launch.