Swiss pair died from effects of the cold

An inquest into the deaths of a Swiss couple, Walter and Ruth Borner, whose bodies were recovered from Lough Ree last week, has…

An inquest into the deaths of a Swiss couple, Walter and Ruth Borner, whose bodies were recovered from Lough Ree last week, has heard that both died from hypothermia.

The inquest, in Roscommon on Saturday, was adjourned until October 18th to allow gardaí to complete their investigations.

Gardaí will try to piece together the chain of events which led to Mr and Ms Borner both ending up in the water, but they say there is nothing to suggest foul play.

They are still exploring the theory that one of the Borners fell into the water, and the other one jumped in to attempt a rescue.

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Mr Borner's ashes will be scattered over the waters of the Shannon and Lough Ree.

His wife will also be cremated, and her ashes brought back to Switzerland, where the couple lived in Dorf, an hour from Zurich.

Ms Borner's son from her first marriage, Belger, and his wife, Janette, arrived in Ireland from Switzerland on Friday and attended Saturday's inquest.

Mr Borner was a keen photographer, and also managing editor of the Shell Guide to the River Shannon.

When cruising on their boat, the Winkelried, he took countless photographs of the Shannon which are considered one of the finest collections of Ireland's longest river.