Tragic fall at Cliffs of Moher: Inquest reveals heartbreaking details

An inquest into the death of Zhihan Zhao revealed troubling eyewitness accounts and a grieving mother's desperate search for her son.

On July 23, 2024, Zhihan was at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare with his mother, Xianhong Huang, and some friends when tragedy struck. The family was visiting the iconic Irish landmark when Zhihan slipped in a puddle near the cliff's edge and fell to his death. Witnesses recounted seeing him struggle to pull himself up before disappearing over the precipice. Clare Coroner's Court heard testimony from a French tourist who had observed the incident, noting it was a swift and sudden fall.

Zhihan and his mother had only arrived in Ireland 12 days prior to the accident. During her testimony, Ms. Huang described how she lost sight of her son as he walked ahead of her along the trail. “My son walked very fast and was ahead of us by 50 meters,” she said. When Zhihan didn’t return, Ms. Huang reported him missing after checking nearby areas without success.

Witness Marion Tourgon recounted the heart-stopping moment, explaining how Zhihan slipped and lost his balance, failing to call out for help. “His right knee eventually fell into the void over the cliff, and he was trying to grasp the grass with his hands to pull himself up,” she described. Tourgon and her family immediately called emergency services.

In response, search operations were launched involving coast guard, police, and local volunteers employing various resources, including drones and boats. However, it took five days for Zhihan’s body to be discovered floating in the sea by a fisherman, Matthew O’Halloran. The coroner's examination revealed Zhihan died from multiple injuries resulting from the fall, confirming the tragic circumstances surrounding the incident.

Coroner Isobel O'Dea offered condolences to Ms. Huang, who was visibly distraught throughout the proceedings. She acknowledged the clear evidence indicating that Zhihan’s death was a quick, accidental tragedy and extended sympathy to his father, who did not attend the inquest.

This incident marked the second fatal accident at the Cliffs of Moher within three months, with safety measures being tightened since then. Significant portions of the trail remain closed due to continuing safety concerns following these accidents.