British tourist's body released for burial

The body of Sarah Lawrie, the British tourist who died after falling off a cliff in Gozo last Tuesday, has been released for burial, the police said.

Ms Lawrie, from Alton, a small market town in Hampshire, was with her husband of one year in Gozo's Wied Mielah when she plunged some 25 metres to her death.

The 40-year-old is understood to have tripped and fallen, letting out a haunting scream as she fell into the water, according to an account given by her husband John.

The 47-year-old policeman told the police he was unable to grab hold of her and looked in horror as she fell. He initially saw her floating in the sea and called out to her but she did not reply. Mr Lawrie then ran for help and could not see his wife's body when he returned.

The police said foul play was not being suspected at this stage.

A similar incident happened in January 2004 when German tourist Dietmar Sprengel, 41, from Esslingen was spotted falling off the cliffs at Ta' Bardan, limits of Sannat, by two tourists. The German was on a two-week holiday and had been reported missing by his friend, another German. His decomposed body was washed ashore at Torri l-Abjad Bay, near Armier Bay, a few days later.