The youngest son of Christchurch-based engineer Roger Lamb and his wife who died during a holiday in Morocco has described his mother's last moments.

Lamb and wife Mathilde, known as Tilly, were holidaying with their four sons, aged between 9 and 16, in Essaouira when they died in separate falls several days apart.

British reports said a "furious argument" was heard before Mathilde, 43, of England, was found on the ground after plunging from the third-floor apartment where they were staying.

Flat owner Majid Naimi told the Daily Mail there was no way her death was an accident – "the only way out of the window is if someone climbs out or is pushed."

But the couple's youngest son who was in the apartment at the time of the tragedy has denied that was the case, The Telegraph reported.

He told relatives that Mathilde had been leaning out of their apartment window to remonstrate with a group of people rowing outside in the street, when she lost her balance and fell.

Her brother-in-law, Mark Rogerson, described what the boy had seen.

"On the night in question, there was a great deal of noise outside the apartment. It was Ramadan and so there was a real din in the street.

"The family were all in bed and were finding the noise quite annoying. But then a bit later, an argument broke out between some people downstairs right in front of the apartment.

"Someone then started banging on the door downstairs and Tilly became quite angry. She went to the window to see who was knocking and to tell them in no uncertain terms to clear off."

Rogerson said she couldn't see what was going on from the window, so according to her son, she climbed up onto the balustrade to get a better view.

As she was leaning out, she overbalanced and fell.

"Roger ran straight outside and found Tilly in the street."

He said there has been a great deal of confusion about the events that night, but after speaking to the boys "it was simply a tragic accident".

Roger Lamb, 47, who had moved to Christchurch about a year ago, died four days later when he apparently jumped from the balcony of the nearby Sofitel Hotel.

Rogerson said any suggestion that there had been tension between the pair was simply not true.

"There was no row in the apartment. The family were happy and excited about the future."

The couple had been discussing the possibility of relocating to New Zealand.

As soon as they found out about Mathilde's death the family flew to Morocco to be with Lamb and the children, he said.

"Roger was in a truly terrible way. He was in a state of deep shock. He was wandering around almost as if he was in a trance.



"He was completely devastated. It was as if his whole life had fallen apart.

"He and Tilly had known each other since they were teenagers and had been married for 20 years. One can only imagine what he was going through."

The couple's four sons were back in Britain, where they were being cared for by relatives.

Lamb moved to Christchurch just under a year ago to work as a geotechnical engineer for engineering firm GHD.

A keen runner, he was a member of the Port Hills Athletics Club.

He was staying with a member of the club after his family returned to England following the February 22 earthquake.

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