A POPULAR GP who fell to her death down a ravine while on a holiday died as a result of an accident a coroner has ruled.

Dr Eleanor Busher, a retired GP and mother of two, had been walking alone when she fell 50 metres down the ravine while on a walking and skiing holiday in Montriond , France.

The medical cause of death has been given as a cerebral and pulmonary oedema (a build up of fluid) and a closed head injury.

An inquest into her death of the 56-year-old and GP of 30 years was held at Worcestershire Coroner’s Court in Stourport today (Thursday).

The court heard that Dr Busher of Station Road, Bransford, near Worcester, who had worked for the Spring Gardens Group Medical Practice and St Martin’s Gate Surgery in Worcester where she had been a partner before she retired, had been on a walking and skiing holiday with friends when the accident happened.

Dr Busher went walking while her husband and other friends went skiing on Saturday, January 24. They planned to meet at 1.30pm in a hamlet for lunch but when she did not attend her husband Guy notified the Gendarmerie that she had gone missing.

Worcestershire coroner, Geraint Williams, said: “”Both Mr Busher and Gendarmerie were increasingly concerned. The weather had started to close in. It was snowing heavily.”

A mountain rescue team became involved, including some from 50 miles away and various techniques were used to try and locate Dr Busher, including thermal imaging.

The search carried on into the late evening as the area where she was most likely to be was combed.

At 1.30am Dr Guy Busher was informed by the French authorities that his wife’s body had been found.

Mr Williams said: “They were of the view that she had slipped from a path just below the telecabin which she may have been planning to use to go back up to the luncheon engagement.”

Guy Busher was asked to go to the scene to identify his wife's body at 3.30am.

The mountain rescue team said the path was reasonably wide but that the path and cliff edge was not particularly apparent and may have looked like a steep slope rather than a cliff.

Mr Williams said: “I have thought long and hard about my conclusion in this case. There is nothing to suggest any element of foul play and absolutely no suggestion whatsoever that Dr Busher wanted to take her own life.

"I am satisfied to the apparent standard that Dr Busher must simply have got too close to the edge or misjudged it and slipped and fell to her death.

“That, in common sense and legal terms, is an accident. The accident caused the injury and the injury caused death.”

Mr Williams recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

We reported at the time how Dr Busher's husband described her as an experienced walker who loved the outdoors and was enjoying a wonderful holiday with her dearest friends.

Many patients also left tributes on the Worcester News website and on our Facebook site, describing her as 'wonderful', 'caring', 'brilliant' and 'compassionate'.

Dr Guy Busher said at the time: "Elly will be remembered by her family, friends and former colleagues as a wonderfully outgoing, sparkling personality who brought so much happiness to those who knew her." She leaves behind her husband and two children, Rebecca and Tom.