Brit couple working as teachers in Qatar killed in sand dune buggy crash
Charlotte Sant and her boyfriend Eamonn Morgan, both 24, died when their vehicle overturned while riding with pals
A YOUNG British couple were killed when their dune buggy crashed in Qatar.
Charlotte Sant, from Warrington, Cheshire, and boyfriend Eamonn Morgan, both 24, died after the vehicle overturned on the dunes of Doha.
Just days earlier two friends - Nicola Fletcher and Holly Smith - had flown out and joined the two teachers that day on the thrill-seeking ride.
But Warrington Coroner's Court heard as Nicola drove them over a dune they only realised at the last moment it was a sheer drop on the other side.
The two friends in the front of the buggy narrowly escaped serious injury but Charlotte and Eamonn in the back suffered serious fatal head and neck injuries in June 2015.
The hearing was told Liverpool John Moores University graduate Eamonn, from Newry, Northern Ireland, was a keen Gaelic football player and even played in Qatar.
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He was hailed a "perfect gent" by his teammates while Charlotte called a "phenomenal teacher" and "sweet girl".
On Wednesday - at Charlotte's inquest - Cheshire Coroner Alan Moore said: "There was no way that it could have been anticipated.
"What had been planned as an enjoyable day out with friends ended as a tragic accident."
He recorded a verdict in Charlotte's case of death by accident due to multiple injuries.
Charlotte, from Sankey Bridges, in Warrington, has met Eamonn years earlier while studying in Manchester.
They both decided to move to Qatar together and had been in Doha for about a year teaching PE in English-speaking schools in the wealthy Middle-Eastern country.
Her inquest heard the couple had been out riding sand dune buggies before in the past without any serious incident.
But in June 2015 Charlotte was delighted that close friends Nicola and Holly had flown out from the UK to spend time with them.
Devastated Nicola told the court that on June 26 - the day before the tragedy - the three girls had been food shopping, sitting around the pool and had a couple of drinks with friends.
The next day along with Eamonn the three girls had travelled to Siline to drive a buggy across the dunes.
Nicola said the group had no safety briefing but they all wore seatbelts in the buggy.
The hearing was told that although they were all offered safety helmets they decided not to use them and they all took it turns driving the buggy.
Nicola explained: "It was time to head back and I said I would have another go.
"We headed up a dune and it just looked flat on top like the others.
"It was just a sheer drop. We didn't know what was happening until it had happened.
"I was in control, my foot wasn't on the floor. We just went off the edge."
Eamonn and Charlotte were sat in the back seats.
Nicola said she was "in a bad way" but found Eamonn's phone on the floor and used it to call for help.
She added: "I didn't see them in the back, I heard Holly next to me. It is just all hazy."
Holly told the court: "Charlotte and Eamonn had used buggies before and nothing ever happened.
"We said no to the helmets - it was a case of a quick decision but a silly one.
"I remember just looking down and seeing all the sand.
"I think the buggy must have rolled.
"I woke up in hospital, I don't remember anything just after the incident.
"I don't understand, I thought the front would get the impact."
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