An inquest into the death of 12-year-old Zhihan Zhao has revealed the heart-wrenching details of the tragic fall, highlighting eyewitness accounts and the subsequent search efforts that followed.
**Tragic Accident at Cliffs of Moher: Inquest Reveals Details of Young Boy's Fall**
**Tragic Accident at Cliffs of Moher: Inquest Reveals Details of Young Boy's Fall**
A 12-year-old boy lost his life after an accidental fall at one of Ireland's most famous landmarks, the Cliffs of Moher, prompting safety concerns.
In a sorrowful recount of events, an inquest has revealed that Zhihan Zhao, a 12-year-old boy on holiday in Ireland, fell to his death at the Cliffs of Moher when he slipped in a puddle near the edge of the breathtaking cliffs. The incident occurred on July 23 of the past year, while the boy was walking ahead of his mother, Xianhong Huang, and her friends.
Eyewitness Marion Tourgon, a tourist from France, described the tragic scene in Clare Coroner's Court. She detailed how she saw Zhihan slip and attempt to catch himself by grasping at grass before toppling over the precipice. The court heard that Zhihan had been walking close to the cliff edge, and despite his frantic efforts to grab the grass, he ultimately fell out of view.
Zhihan and his mother, who are both Chinese nationals, had only arrived in Ireland a short time before the accident. Ms. Huang, distraught and desperate after losing sight of her son, searched for him and ultimately reported him missing after failing to find him at the visitor center.
The inquest also revealed the intense search operations launched following the incident. An air, land, and sea search involving the Irish Coast Guard and local authorities commenced shortly after Zhihan's fall, but it took five days for his body to be recovered. A local fisherman eventually found his remains in the waters between Doolin and the Aran Islands, leading to heart-wrenching confirmation of the boy's tragic death due to multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a height fall.
The coroner conveyed her condolences to Zhihan's grieving mother and emphasized that his death was both sudden and tragic, leading the court to record a verdict of accidental death. The Cliffs of Moher have since raised safety concerns, leading to partial closures of the trail due to similar incidents in the past year.
Eyewitness Marion Tourgon, a tourist from France, described the tragic scene in Clare Coroner's Court. She detailed how she saw Zhihan slip and attempt to catch himself by grasping at grass before toppling over the precipice. The court heard that Zhihan had been walking close to the cliff edge, and despite his frantic efforts to grab the grass, he ultimately fell out of view.
Zhihan and his mother, who are both Chinese nationals, had only arrived in Ireland a short time before the accident. Ms. Huang, distraught and desperate after losing sight of her son, searched for him and ultimately reported him missing after failing to find him at the visitor center.
The inquest also revealed the intense search operations launched following the incident. An air, land, and sea search involving the Irish Coast Guard and local authorities commenced shortly after Zhihan's fall, but it took five days for his body to be recovered. A local fisherman eventually found his remains in the waters between Doolin and the Aran Islands, leading to heart-wrenching confirmation of the boy's tragic death due to multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a height fall.
The coroner conveyed her condolences to Zhihan's grieving mother and emphasized that his death was both sudden and tragic, leading the court to record a verdict of accidental death. The Cliffs of Moher have since raised safety concerns, leading to partial closures of the trail due to similar incidents in the past year.
