UK couple found dead in apartment on holiday isle may have died of natural causes, say police

The bodies of James Mutch, 57, and Beatrice Sallens, 69, were discovered in an apartment in the resort of Playa de Las Americas on Monday.

It is thought they may have been dead for about five days and police are awaiting the results of post-mortem examinations.

Officers broke into the flat after neighbours noticed a smell coming from the property at the Residencial Los Cardones complex.

Detectives have said they are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened but it is understood there were no signs of violence or a break-in.

Mr Mutch reportedly suffered from a serious illness and it has been suggested he might have died after falling and striking his head against a table in the sitting room. His wife is understood to have

been found in bed.

It is thought the couple, who originally lived in Glasgow, moved to the Spanish Canary Island about five years ago and rented the flat from another British couple.

A police spokeswoman said: "We think they died of natural causes and that nothing strange happened.

"But we have to investigate everything and we are still waiting for the results of the post-mortem examinations to confirm what happened.

"We are not looking for anyone in connection with the deaths."

Sheila Collis, deputy editor of local newspaper Island Connections, said the deaths had caused alarm within the community

"The police have confirmed there were no signs of violence on either of the bodies. The initial reaction among locals was fear because when the man's body was removed quite a lot of blood was seen but word has got round that it is believed it was not a violent attack and that seems to have calmed them down."

Former neighbours of Ms Sallens in Glasgow spoke of a "happy, outgoing" woman with a strong belief in God.

Speaking outside the tenement block on the city's southside, Valerie McGowan said: "She was a very good neighbour, very reliable. She was a good, happy person."

Ms McGowan said the couple had planned to start a new life in Tenerife "to get away" from Glasgow. Mr Mutch had moved first, with his wife following later.

Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said of Ms Sallens: "She was a very religious Catholic."