Girl, 13, dies snorkelling with her dad on family holiday in Florida
A British family abroad had the dream holiday turn to a tragedy when their teenager died while snorkelling with her dad. Anna Beaumont, 13, was on a sunshine trip to Florida when they visited the popular Discovery Cove theme park, known for its water rides and being able to swim alongside Dolphins and other sea creatures.
But tragedy struck when Anna was spotted "floating and unresponsive" in the natural-style pool that contained both shallow and deep areas, coral reefs, rocky structures and wildlife, an inquest heard. Snorkelling around the huge pool with her dad Peter, he moved away from his daughter to check on her younger brother. After around 10 minutes, he began hearing lifeguard whistles and noticed Anna was in trouble.
The inquest heard that when the lifeguards found Anna, of St Fagans, Cardiff, she didn't have her snorkelling gear, and her mask had filled with blood and water. The incident happened on May 28, 2024, and after being pulled from the water Anna was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando but never regained consciousness. It comes after reports a dad's tragic three-word post hours before plunging to his death at Oasis gig.
Coroner Kerrie Burge said Anna died the following day, while a medical cause of death was given as immersion in water. Anna passed away in hospital a day later, where coroner Kerrie Burge classified her death as being caused by immersion in water.
Anna was a 'strong swimmer with no current health concerns' and was a keen rower, so we used to be in and out of the water, making the circumstances surrounding her death even more confusing. The inquest concluded that 'on the balance of probabilities', it could not be confirmed how Anna came to struggle in the water.
Although it was said that Anna had been diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy in July 2016, although had not suffered from a seizure for more than three years. After her death, there was also no evidence to suggest she had a seizure in the water.
The coroner added: "Whilst a small risk of seizures remained, Anna had not experienced any. There is no evidence to confirm how Anna came to be unresponsive in the water.
"She was not seen to have a seizure or to encounter any difficulties, and there was no medical evidence of seizure activity during her time in hospital or at post-mortem examination."
After the news of her death last year, the local community came out to pay tribute to the teenager. Trevor Wing, the chair of Llandaff Rowing Club, said: '[Anna was a] keen rower who had been training hard all winter and was enjoying the recent water sessions".
'She was a lovely and talented young lady and will be greatly missed. All the junior section and the rowing club wish to express their heartfelt condolences to Anna's family."
Andrew Williams, headteacher of Radyr Comprehensive, said: "The very thought of losing a child is an unimaginable journey and I know I speak on behalf of the whole school community when I say that our thoughts are with Anna's family as they try to come to terms with their loss.
"Anna was a cherished member of our school family, and her absence will be profoundly felt by pupils, staff and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her spirit, kindness and presence touched so many lives."
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