TV presenter Phil Spencer’s mother died of a lung infection and brain injury after being submerged underwater for up to 20 minutes following a car accident on the family farm, an inquest has heard.
Anne Spencer, 82 and her 89-year-old husband, Richard both died after their car careered into a river on Lower Garrington Farm in Littlebourne near Canterbury in August.
An inquest into Anne’s death was opened at County Hall in Maidstone, Kent today. Phil has previously revealed that his mother suffered from Parkinson’s.
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 full-time carer, Veronica Francis, was in the rear passenger seat.
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.
Richard Spencer – right – was with Anne when their car careered into a river on Lower Garrington Farm in Littlebourne near Canterbury in August
Location, Location, Location star Phil Spencer with his 82-year-old mother, Anne
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 aspiration pneumonia and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and 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.
‘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).’
Richard and Anne were reportedly leaving their farm to travel to a local pub for lunch when their car drifted into the shallow river
Tributes have been left at the spot where Phil Spencer’s parents died in August
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 father 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 star 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 his mother had been suffering from Parkinson’s and David had been diagnosed with Dementia.
Phil wrote: ‘Very sadly both of my amazing parents died on Friday.
‘As a family we are all trying to hold onto the fact Mum and Dad went together and that neither will ever have to mourn the loss of the other one. Which is a blessing in itself.
‘Although they were both on extremely good form in the days before (hence the sudden idea to go out to lunch),
‘Mums Parkinson’s and Dads Dementia had been worsening and the long term future was set to be a challenge.
‘So much so that Mum said to me only a week ago that she had resigned to thinking ‘now it looks like we will probably go together’. And so they did.
‘That was what God had planned for them – and it was a good plan.
‘The car, going very slowly, toppled over a bridge on the farm drive, upside down into the river.
TV star 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 Parkinson’s and Richard had been diagnosed with dementia
Phil has spoken in the past about his love of where he grew up and being the son of a farmer (Pictured: Littlebourne)
‘There were no physical injuries and I very much doubt they would have even fought it – they would have held hands under the water and quietly slipped away.
‘Their carer was in the car and managed to climb out of a back window so the alarm was raised quite quickly.
‘As many farmers do – my brother had a penknife and so was able to cut the seat belts – he pulled them out of the river but they never regained consciousness.
‘Although desperately sad and shocked beyond all belief – all family are clear that if there can ever be such a thing as having a “good end” – this was it.’
Phil added: ‘It feels horrendous right now, but after almost 60 years of marriage – to die together on the farm they so loved will, I know, be a comfort in the future.
‘Mum and Dad are together which is precisely where they would have wanted to be.’