Mystery over deaths of millionaire couple as inquest fails to determine how the pensioners were found submerged in swimming pool in French villa

The deaths of a millionaire Berkshire couple in a French villa swimming pool has  remained a mystery, despite a coroner’s inquest.

David and Diana Shamash, aged 82 and 80 years respectively, were found submerged in a pool at their luxury villa outside Montpellier, France in 2022. 

The pair were found by friends whom they had invited to dinner.

Berkshire Coroner Priya Malhotra today ruled the case as having an open conclusion, as the cause of death for the couple was unable to be ascertained.

The company director and his company secretary wife had been on an extended holiday at the villa they owned when the double tragedy happened. 

Mr Shamash was the director of 10 property businesses with assets of more than £5million and he was the secretary of another four firms worth the same amount.

The coroner said at today’s inquest in Reading: ‘The sad sequence of events in this matter was that David and Diana were on holiday at their home in France which they regularly visited. 

‘Their friends of 35 years went there for dinner. They were concerned that they could not get a hold of Mr and Mrs Shamash. 

‘The couple attended the villa at approximately 8pm and discovered the couple deceased in the swimming pool of the property.

‘The deaths were confirmed and post-mortem examination and toxicity tests in France and the UK were carried out – both of which have been unable to provide a medical cause of death.

‘French authorities have excluded third party involvement and any suspicion of foul play.’

The Thillaye du Boullay family, who had been friends with the Shamash couple for 35 years, were invited to the Shamash’s luxury villa on July 30, 2022 to have dinner. 

However, Mr and Mrs Thillaye du Boullay found the door closed, but unlocked and the table unlaid.

They then discovered the bodies of Mr and Mrs Shamash in the swimming pool.

A French police investigation at the property near the market town of Gignac, France, found there were no signs of a break-in and a phone was charging in the kitchen on a wooden sideboard.

Noting the French police investigation, coroner Mrs Malhotra told the inquest that the maintenance of the pool was unsatisfactory, with tiles unstuck or missing and leaves, snails and stones at bottom of the pool.

The inquest heard that Mr Shamash had a stroke six to eight years ago. He also had glaucoma in his right eye and suffered with blindness in his left eye and a history of high blood pressure.

‘Minimal’ traces of alcohol was found in Mr Shamash’s bloodstream, whereas Mrs Shamash was found to have a more significant amount of alcohol in her body.

However, Mrs Malhotra added that this may have been from the post-mortem process itself.

A first responder also found an electric pool robot in the water with their bodies. However, it is unclear if it played any role in their deaths.

Ms Malhotra noted that Mr Shamash could swim but Mrs Shamash had difficulty doing so.

The couple, who also had a house in South Fawley, were born in different areas of the UK. 

Mrs Shamash was born in Leominster, Herefordshire and Mr Shamash was born in Wimbledon, south London.

Ms Malhotra concluded the case, saying: ‘I would wish in some way to give an explanation as to how they died but the evidence does not allow me to reach a conclusion that can be explained to family as to how they died.

‘It is not definitive to have reached a conclusion as to how they died.’