TV star Phil Spencer’s parents ‘trapped underwater for 20 minutes’ after crash

An inquest has revealed more details about the tragic deaths of TV star Phil Spencer's parents after the pair plunged into a river in their car while on their way to a pub for lunch. Richard, 89, and Anne, 82, had been married for almost 60 years[1] before they were involved in a car accident on the family farm near Canterbury, Kent. The car veered off an access road into a shallow river running through the estate in Littlebourne.

The inquest[2] heard the pair were submerged underwater for up to 20 minutes before they were pulled form the vehicle and rushed to hospital. Another woman, in her 60s, was also in the car and suffered minor injuries, reports The Mirror[3]. An inquest into Anne's death was opened at County Hall in Maidstone, Kent, this morning.

Sarah Clarke, Area Coroner for North East Kent, told the court Anne was driving her Toyota down a private lane from the family home towards a bridge on their land, which passed over the Nail Bourne River, around 12.20pm on August 18. Her husband Richard was in the front passenger seat of the car, and the couple's carer was in the back of the vehicle. The inquest opening heard that as the car approached the bridge, it slipped off the edge and overturned - submerging all three occupants in three feet of water.

?Mrs Clarke said the carer managed to escape through the passenger window and called for help. But the court was told Richard and Anne were submerged underwater for around 20 minutes. Paramedics arrived and took the couple to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate, Kent, where Anne was pronounced dead at 9.55pm.

Mrs Clarke said her cause of death was given as 1a) aspiration pneumonia and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and 1b) submersion in water (near drowning). Aspiration pneumonia is defined as an inflammation and infection of the lungs or large airways caused by inhaling food or liquid.

?Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury occurs when the brain experiences a decrease in oxygen or blood flow. Mrs Clarke told the inquest: "Mrs Spencer was a farmer and was born on May 22, 1941 in Canterbury.

She was married to Richard David Edward Spencer, who was also a farmer. ?"Mrs Spencer died on August 18, 2023 at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Kent. Identification was dealt with by police and her family.

The circumstances, as I understand them, were that approximately 12.20pm on August 18, Mrs Spencer was driving her Toyota. In the front passenger seat was her husband and sitting in the rear passenger seat was their full-time live-in carer. ?"Mrs Spencer drove from their house down a private lane towards a junction which transverses the Nail Bourne River.

As the vehicle negotiated the bridge, which had a steep slant down and a sharp edge, it tipped over the edge and struck the bottom of the river and overturned - submerging all three occupants in three feet of water.

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?"The carer escaped through the passenger window and called for help. It is thought that Mr and Mrs Spencer were submerged for up to 20 minutes. Paramedics arrived at 12.57pm and took Mr and Mrs Spencer to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital.

Mrs Spencer was pronounced deceased at 9.55pm while she was in hospital. Her cause of death was given as 1a) aspiration pneumonia and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and 1b) submersion in water (near drowning)." ?Mrs Clarke set a date for a full inquest into Anne and Richard's deaths for 3.30pm on December 19 at Oakwood House in Maidstone.

Last month an inquest opening at County Hall heard that Phil's dad died of a lung injury after nearly drowning in the car accident on the family farm. ?In October 30, Mrs Clarke told the court David failed to regain consciousness following the accident and was pronounced dead in hospital. His cause of death was given as Aspiration Pneumonitis - an injury of the lungs - on the basis of near drowning.

?TV favourite Phil paid tribute to his "amazing parents" in a post on Instagram on August 20, where he revealed the couple had been going out for lunch at the time of their accident.

He also shared that Anne had been suffering from Parkinson's and David had been diagnosed with Dementia.

References

1. ^ Richard, 89, and Anne, 82, had been married for almost 60 years (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
2. ^ The inquest (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
3. ^ The Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ Lad who battled meningitis 'returns favour' with GBP23K 'Everest' climb (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
5. ^ by clicking here (chat.whatsapp.com)
6. ^ Read our privacy notice here (www.reachplc.com)