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Inquests open into deaths of Friday Bridge couple pulled from Fenland river
Cause of death has not been established as yet
Inquests opened into the deaths of husband and wife John and Barbara Nicholls – both in their 80s – whose bodies were pulled from a Cambridgeshire river on successive days earlier this month.
Barbara Nicholls, 81, was located in the Twenty Foot River, Twenty Foot Road, March, on 13 July 2024.
The body of her husband John Nicholls, 86, was located in the Twenty Foot River, Twenty Foot Road, March. on 14 July 2024.
The bodies of John and Barbara Nicholls were recovered from the 20ft river at March. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances; their inquests opened yesterday. PHOTO: Terry Harris for CambsNews
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Coroners said of both: “Cause of death has not been established as yet, we are waiting on histology and toxicology.”
An inquest was opened and adjourned at Huntingdon yesterday (Thursday). A full inquest is expected to be held on January 30, 2025.
The couple lived in Friday Bridge. A short obituary notice in the Fenland Citizen this week described them as a “beloved mum and dad and grandparents; sadly missed”.
The bodies of John and Barbara Nicholls were recovered from the 20ft river at March. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances; their inquests opened yesterday. PHOTO: Terry Harris for CambsNews
Once the bodies were recovered, police revealed they were not treating the deaths of John and Barbara as suspicious.
Police were first called to Chain Bridge, March, at about 8.35am on Saturday (13 July) with reports of concern for the welfare of two people.
On Saturday afternoon the body of Barbara Nicholls was recovered from the river.
The body of John Nicholls was recovered from the water on the following day.
