Driver drowned after car plunged into River Dart

An 87-year-old Paignton pensioner has been named as the driver who drowned after his car plunged into the River Dart earlier this month. An inquest recently opened into the death of John Osborne following the incident at South Embankment in Dartmouth on Sunday, November 10.

The short hearing held at Exeter Coroner's Court heard Mr Osborne, who was a retired widower, was seen getting into his car and driving it over the wall into the River Dart. Despite a huge emergency services response, he was unable to be saved.

Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Devon, said: "The circumstances of his death are Mr Osborne was seen parking his vehicle on the embankment on Dartmouth. He walked around for a short time before returning to his vehicle. His vehicle was then witnessed to drive over the wall and into the River Dart.

"Emergency services attended but he was sadly declared deceased. There are no suspicious circumstances. Presently, the medical cause of death is drowning."

The inquest was adjourned for a full hearing to be held at a later date. At the time of the incident, DevonLive reported how emergency services were called to the scene at around 8.40am.

A major operation got underway, with police divers and fire and rescue crews, and the embankment area was closed with a cordon put in place for much of the day.

Later in the afternoon, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed a man in his 80s was the sole occupant of the car, and had been pulled out, but was pronounced dead at the scene.