An inquest has been opened into the tragic death of a 24-year-old woman who suffered a fatal fall from a bridge in Exeter after a work event. Emma Bundy, the assistant site manager from Barnstaple, plummeted to her death from a bridge on the A379 at Sandy Park in the early hours of February 1.
Emergency services were called to the bridge around 12.45am. After Emma’s fall, she was struck by a vehicle.
The incident led to a road closure for several hours to facilitate a thorough investigation. A 45-year-old man from Exmouth was apprehended on suspicion of causing death by careless driving but has since been released on bail as enquiries concluded.
During a recent brief session at Exeter Coroners Court, it was revealed that Emma, originally from Colchester, was in a distressed state and being aided by a bystander on the bridge when the incident occurred. Area coroner Alison Longhorn disclosed: “The circumstances are that Emma was attending a work event at Sandy Park. Concerns were raised for her welfare when she was seen in a distressed state on the footbridge over the A379.
“A member of the public called the emergency services and tried to assist her. Unfortunately, Emma slipped off the bridge landing on the road below. Emergency services attended and sadly declared her deceased at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances. The precise medical cause of death has not yet been ascertained.”
In a recent statement, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed: “There will be no further action taken against the man who was arrested. The matter will not be proceeded with.” The full inquest is set to take place at a future date, reports Devon Live.
Emma’s professional journey was highlighted last year on DevonLive as part of International Women’s Day celebrations, where her triumphs in the construction sector were lauded. As an apprentice assistant site manager at Vistry South West, Emma contributed to projects for Bovis Homes and Linden Homes while living with her mother and their dog, Cleo.
Her earlier battles included overcoming homelessness and caring for her mother. She shared her heartfelt story: “I feel very lucky to finally be at this stage in my life as it’s been a real struggle. My mum and I were homeless for two years and I was desperate to turn things around but I had no idea what I wanted to do.
“I’d worked as a delivery driver, a maintenance manager at a holiday park and a painter and I was keen to do as many courses as possible – anything that opened doors for me. I undertook a plastering apprenticeship and achieved an NVQ level two qualification but it was challenging as I had to wake at 5am each morning to walk to the train station.”
Emma, a female bricklayer, has shared her inspiring journey from an apprenticeship to earning big in the construction industry. She recounted, “One teacher, Grant Johnson, kindly told me about an eight week bricklaying course where I met Vistry’s CEO, Greg Fitzgerald – who started as an apprentice – and it really spurred me on. I was delighted when an apprenticeship opened up at Vistry and grabbed it with both hands.”
Emma expressed her passion for her ‘brilliant’ job and her gratitude for being part of the industry. Looking ahead, she said, “In terms of career progression, I’m keen to keep earning qualifications and stay in the company, although one day it may be nice to work abroad.”
Emma also touched on the gender bias she has faced, saying, “As a female, I have seen bias. I was once told by a teacher that I’d never do as much as a guy but that encouraged me to prove him wrong and I will continue to support other women to challenge these misconceptions. I’ve received lots of praise now I’m on site, which I wasn’t expecting, and it’s good to be in a safe, supportive environment.”
