A British couple who lost their lives in a tragic cable car accident near Naples, Italy, have been named as Elaine and Graeme Winn. The incident has sent shockwaves through both the local Italian community and their hometown of Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Elaine, 58, and Graeme, 65, were among four people killed when a cable car cabin dramatically plunged to the ground on Thursday. Their loss has deeply affected their community, especially fellow bikers who knew them well.
Among the many heartfelt responses, this tribute to the couple after the Monte Faito cable car tragedy captures the impact they had on those around them.
Italian authorities confirmed that one of the main support cables had snapped, causing the cabin to fall just moments before reaching the top of Mount Faito.
Local officials reported that the couple had been enjoying a scenic ride when disaster struck.
The other victims of the crash include 59-year-old cable car driver Carmine Parlato and an Israeli tourist, Janan Suliman. Suliman’s brother was also aboard and remains in the hospital in critical condition after being airlifted from the scene.
Confusion Over Victim’s Identity
Initial media reports in Italy mistakenly identified the British woman as Margaret Elaine Winn. It has now been confirmed that she was commonly known as Elaine.
A criminal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the failure.
The cable car operator insisted that the line had passed a full safety inspection just two weeks before the crash. However, local authorities in Torre Annunziata are now looking closely at mechanical and environmental factors.
Reports suggest that a traction cable may have snapped. According to Luigi Vicinanza, Mayor of Castellammare di Stabia, where the cable car is based, “The emergency power brake downstream worked but clearly not the one on the cabin that was about to reach the top of the hill.”
He also confirmed that the line, which spans two miles (3km) from the town to Mount Faito, had undergone regular safety checks.
Adverse Weather Possibly to Blame
Investigators are exploring whether strong winds contributed to the crash. The cable car service had been suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday due to poor weather. It had only resumed operations on Thursday morning, hours before the fatal incident.
Sixteen other passengers travelling in a second cabin at the time of the crash were safely rescued. Emergency services winched them to safety from the lower end of the line.
A day of mourning has been declared in the local community, with all Easter-related events cancelled as a mark of respect.
Vincenzo De Luca, president of the Campania region, described the incident as: “A truly tragic and painful day.”
Shortly after the accident, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was visiting Washington at the time, extended her sympathies: “Sincere condolences” to the families of the victims.
The British Foreign Office is believed to be providing assistance to the victims’ families.
The Mount Faito cable car has been a popular tourist attraction since its launch in 1952. Tragically, this is not the first incident. In 1960, a similar crash on the same line claimed four lives.
This heartbreaking event has raised serious concerns about the safety of long-standing infrastructure in Italy’s mountainous regions. As investigations unfold, grieving families await answers. The tragic loss of Elaine and Graeme Winn has left a deep mark, not only in Market Harborough but across the UK and Italy alike.
This devastating incident follows other recent tragedies abroad involving tourists. In another heartbreaking case, a Spanish family lost their lives in a helicopter crash over the Hudson River in New York.
