Bridegroom plunges to his death from cliff walking with new wife

LISBON — A bridegroom plunged to his death from a cliff while walking back from a romantic meal with his wife during their honeymoon in Portugal.

Brian Orton, 45, was returning to his hotel in the dark when he lost his footing on a cliffpath and fell 60ft.

New wife Catherine, 40, had been walking a few steps ahead and only realized he had disappeared when she called out to him but got no reply. The distraught newlywed rushed back to the couple’s hotel in the resort of Albufeira and alerted staff.

Mr Orton’s body was found following a 90-minute search.

The gas engineer, from Coundon, near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, is thought to have plunged 18m (60ft).

It is not yet clear whether Mr Orton fell from the top of the path or from an open-air escalator built into the cliff face.

The tragedy occurred on July 1, six days into their dream honeymoon. The couple married at the Park Head Hotel on Brian’s birthday on June 21 in front of 25 friends and family.

Heartbroken Catherine told the Daily Mail: “‘It was a tragic accident and I still expect him to walk through the door. It has come as a massive shock, I really miss him.” — Agencies