The UK Foreign Office has expressed its condolences and confirmed that it is actively supporting the family of a couple tragically killed in a cable car accident in Naples, Italy. Graeme Winn, aged 65, and his wife, Elaine Winn, aged 58, were among the four victims who lost their lives during a catastrophic incident on Thursday at Monte Faito, located in the town of Castellammare di Stabia, which is situated approximately 28 miles (45 kilometers) southeast of Naples.

The horrific accident occurred when a traction cable snapped while the cable car was ascending the mountain. This failure not only caused the car to crash but also led to a halt of other cable cars in operation, including one that was near the base of the peak, which had 16 passengers on board. Thankfully, those individuals were successfully evacuated without injury.

Among the other victims was Janan Suliman, a 25-year-old woman of Arab descent who held Israeli citizenship. Her brother, Thaeb Suliman, 23, sustained severe injuries and is currently hospitalized in Ponticelli, a nearby locality. The fourth victim was identified as Carmine Parlato, the cable car operator, who also perished in the tragic event.

In response to the incident, prosecutors in the Torre Annunziata region have initiated an investigation into potential manslaughter charges related to the crash. This development indicates the seriousness with which Italian authorities are treating the situation, particularly given the recent maintenance check that the cable car service underwent just a week prior to the accident. Reports from Italian media state that one of the supporting cables had indeed snapped, leading to this tragic outcome.

Umberto De Gregorio, the chair of EAV, the public transport company responsible for the cable car service, took to Facebook to describe the scenario, referring to it as a tragedy. His comments highlight the gravity of the situation and the impact it has had on the local community and beyond.

A British tourist, Megan Pacey, aged 50, who was vacationing in the area with her family, witnessed the frantic evacuation efforts from another cable car that was left suspended in the air following the incident. Accompanied by her husband, James Ross, and their two children, Hannah, 10, and Luke, 8, Megan described how they were within mere moments of the accident occurring. She detailed how they observed the emergency services starting to winch people down from the suspended cable car, stating that there was a noticeable sense of urgency in the air as they left the scene.

On Friday, Megan noticed flowers and candles placed on the steps outside the railway station, a poignant reminder of the lives lost in this heartbreaking accident. Emergency services remained present at the scene, underscoring the ongoing response to this disaster as the community comes to terms with its aftermath.