Woman died after becoming trapped under van

Eleanor Thompson had been living in the campervan since 2023

A British woman died in Australia after becoming trapped under a campervan, an inquest has heard.

Eleanor Thompson, 35, originally from Mold, Flintshire, died from multiple injuries in March 2025, when her van rolled off a driveway, slid down an incline and crushed her.

Ms Thompson had been travelling in Australia since 2023, living in the campervan.

The inquest at Denbighshire Coroner's Court, in Ruthin, heard how the hospitality worker had been house-sitting for a friend in Burringbar, in New South Wales, when the incident happened.

The inquest heard it was not possible to know whether the campervan's handbrake had been left off before it rolled down the steep incline.

Ms Thompson's last contact with her family in the UK was a text to her mother, Amanda, on 8 March.

After failing to arrive for her shift at a pub on 10 March, two friends went to the property where she was house-sitting to look for her.

They found her van about 20 metres from the house, wedged into vegetation. Ms Thompson's body was found underneath.

A post-mortem examination concluded she died as a result of multiple injuries, including broken ribs, after being crushed.

A coroner's office in Australia had recorded a conclusion of "misadventure", but coroner John Gittens said he felt a conclusion of "accident" was more appropriate under UK coroner's law.

Eleanor Thompson was described as a "adventurous spirit" by her relatives

The inquest heard that the powerful cyclone Storm Alfred was battering New South Wales at the time of the incident. It caused widespread damage, but the weather is not believed to have played a part in Ms Thompson's death.

Ms Thompson had embarked on her travels three years ago, first to Asia, in 2022, and then on to Australia, in 2023.

She had been planning to return the UK later this year, when her visa ran out.

A statement written by her father, Peter, was read out by Mr Gittins at the inquest on Tuesday.

He described his daughter as someone whose "adventurous spirit could never be contained".

She had "a passion for music and dance", and had previously worked at London's Groucho Club, meeting artists such as dancer Wayne Sleep and singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini.

He paid tribute to his daughter's "kindness, openness and generosity of spirit".