The inquest into the death of 12-year-old Zhihan Zhao revealed that he slipped near the edge of Ireland's iconic Cliffs of Moher, prompting a desperate search operation that lasted several days. On July 23, 2023, Zhihan was visiting the site with his mother, Xianhong Huang, and her friends when tragedy struck. Witness testimony provided chilling details as a French tourist recounted seeing the boy slip in a puddle while attempting to regain his balance.
According to the court, Zhihan was around 50 meters ahead of his mother when she last spotted him around 1 PM. After he failed to show up at a meeting point, Ms. Huang reported him missing. The inquest heard from Marion Tourgon, the tourist who witnessed the fall, describing how Zhihan lost his footing, grasped at grass, and ultimately fell over the edge without making a sound.
An extensive search operation involving the Irish Coast Guard and local volunteers was initiated after witnesses alerted authorities. Unfortunately, Zhihan's body was not recovered until 28 July, five days later, when a fisherman discovered it off the coast.
The coroner explained that post-mortem results confirmed Zhihan died from traumatic injuries consistent with a high fall. The family, still grappling with grief, received condolences from the court, emphasizing the need for safety measures at the cliffs, where previous tragedies had raised similar concerns. Following the incidents, large sections of the Cliffs of Moher trail were closed temporarily to address safety issues.
According to the court, Zhihan was around 50 meters ahead of his mother when she last spotted him around 1 PM. After he failed to show up at a meeting point, Ms. Huang reported him missing. The inquest heard from Marion Tourgon, the tourist who witnessed the fall, describing how Zhihan lost his footing, grasped at grass, and ultimately fell over the edge without making a sound.
An extensive search operation involving the Irish Coast Guard and local volunteers was initiated after witnesses alerted authorities. Unfortunately, Zhihan's body was not recovered until 28 July, five days later, when a fisherman discovered it off the coast.
The coroner explained that post-mortem results confirmed Zhihan died from traumatic injuries consistent with a high fall. The family, still grappling with grief, received condolences from the court, emphasizing the need for safety measures at the cliffs, where previous tragedies had raised similar concerns. Following the incidents, large sections of the Cliffs of Moher trail were closed temporarily to address safety issues.
