A FAMILY holiday ended in tragedy when a fit and healthy pensioner drowned, an inquest was told.

Brian Jupe had been enjoying his second day of a trip to the Parga area of Greece when he died on Friday, August 5, this year.

Worcestershire Coroner’s Court in Stourport was told this was the fourth time the family had visited the region, which is a favourite coastal retreat of the Greek population and is known as a safe area to swim.

Mr Jupe’s wife, Jill, told Coroner Geraint Williams the family had always been strong swimmers and enjoyed swimming in the sea.

Son William said his father, of Hamilton Road, off Wyld’s Lane, was “a picture of health” and had already swum that morning without trouble, before taking himself out to an island about 100m from the shore.

It is believed the retired mechanical engineer, who was also a keen walker, was found face down in the water by an Italian tourist who raised the alarm when she realised he was not moving.

A pathology report revealed there were no signs of any health problems which could have led to the 77-year-old’s death. It concluded he had drowned.

Mrs Jupe said the family would not return to Parga and praised the support they received throughout the process from friends, relatives and officials in England and Greece.

“What we do know is how he died, it was fairly rapid and thank goodness for that,” she said.

“We’re reminded by all our friends that old age can be very trying and he escaped that.

“It was very traumatic at the time and in retrospect you realise he was a very lucky man.”

Mr Jupe’s church, St Martin’s in London Road, was filled with his favourite flowers, sunflowers, for a packed-out memorial service held in his memory at the end of August.

In an article for the parish magazine, Mrs Jupe described her husband as “a bridge builder”, with an ability to draw people of different understandings together.

In recognition of this, more than £1,400 was given in donations in his memory to aid the work of the Coventry Cathedral Reconciliation Ministry.

A tribute to Mr Jupe printed in the magazine said he had a thirst for knowledge, was warm, supportive and energetic. It said his “life was full” and “his bucket was never half empty”.

Mr Williams recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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