Naples cable car: British tourists who died in tragedy names for first time | World | News
The British tourists who died in the Naples cable car tragedy have been named for the first time. Margaret Elaine Winn and Graeme Derek Winn were identified by Italian media on Friday afternoon (April 18).
Italian news agency Ansa earlier reported that two British tourists and an Israeli national were among four people who died in the crash at Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia. The outlet cited Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi.
Corriere della Sera reported the Winns were related, but didn’t provide anymore details in its report, other than saying Ms Winn was aged 58.
The two other victims have now been named as engineer, Carmine Parlato, 59, and Janan Suleiman, 25, who was identified by the same publication as a Palestinian with an Israeli passport.
An Israeli man, aged 30, was in a “stable” condition, according to reports of a statement issued by the hospital where he is being treated. He is believed to be the brother of the 25-year-old woman who died.
Disaster struck when a traction cable snapped, bringing cable cars to a halt, according to initial details. A fifth person, believed to be a foreign tourist, was seriously injured during the incident and a number of people had to be evacuated from another cable car.
In a translated post on social media, Vincenzo De Luca, President of Campania, described the day as “truly tragic and painful”. He said his thoughts went out to those who had died, the injured and all the families affected.
Mr De Luca said he was grateful for the rescuers and said an investigation into what happened will be carried out. According to reports, Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into multiple manslaughter and culpable disaster.
Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, Mayor of Castellammare, posted on Facebook that there will be a day of mourning. He decided to cancel all public events for the Easter holidays. He added a minute’s silence would be held on Friday in memory of those who died.
Firefighters, police and Italy’s alpine rescue service were sent to the scene, which is between the popular tourist areas of Pompeii and Sorrento.
The public transport firm EAV, which operates the cable car, said the service had reopened a week ago with all the required safety conditions.
Checks were being carried out by investigators on the cable car, with the possibility strong wind was among the causes of the tragedy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences from Washington DC, where she was meeting US President Donald Trump.
A British tourist said she could see people being evacuated in a harness from one cable car after the incident. Megan Pacey, 50, from London, was with her husband, James Ross, and their two children Hannah, 10, and Luke, eight, when they saw one of the suspended cable cars.
She said: “We were within a minute or two of (the incident) happening. They started winching people down from the cable car. We watched the first couple of people come down in a harness and as we left, there was a sense of urgency that had kicked in.”
Ms Pacey said she later saw flowers and candles on the steps outside the railway station.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are dealing with an incident in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities. Our thoughts are with those affected. Our staff are available 24/7 to support British nationals abroad.”
