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Port mortem confirms drowning in Essex country house hotel
A post mortem examination has concluded that the couple found dead in the pool of a luxury country house hotel in Essex had drowned.
The management of Down Hall Hotel in Hatfield Heath said the findings put an end to "inappropriate speculation" by a news agency and some tabloid newpapers that the couple had been poisoned.
"We wish to reiterate our condolences to the friends and families of the lady and gentleman concerned. Both myself and the team at the hotel are deeply upset by what has happened," said Chris Falcus, the hotel manager.
"The results of the post mortem examination have concluded that the deaths of the two people were consistent with drowning, which puts an end to inappropriate speculation about our facilities."
The man in his 30s and a woman, in her 20s, were discovered under the water by a guest on Saturday evening.
Two employees dived into the pool but failed to revive the pair.
There were several events taking place at the hotel over the weekend, including a wedding, but it is not known whether the deceased pair were attending.
According to the Mirror, a Murder Mystery event was scheduled to take place at the hotel and when some guests turned up they thought the police at the scene were actors and were part of the act.
The historic hotel bills itself as "one of England’s most established country house hotels" and was the venue for the wedding of Jade Goody and Jack Tweed in February 2009, weeks before the reality TV star lost her battle with cancer.
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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