Mystery of how superfit British schoolgirl, 13, drowned in swimming pool at Discovery Cove resort is 'impossible' to solve, coroner rules

Daily Mail​

19 hours ago

The mystery of how a superfit British schoolgirl drowned in a swimming pool at a holiday resort in Florida is 'impossible' to solve, a coroner has ruled.
Anna Beaumont, 13, was snorkelling with her family at the Discovery Cove theme park in Orlando on May 28 when she was spotted 'floating and unresponsive' in the natural-style pool.
An inquest heard the teenager was snorkelling with her father Peter in the pool that features 'shallow and deeper areas, coral reefs, rocky structures and wildlife.'
Her father moved away from her to see her younger brother before he heard a lifeguard whistle around ten minutes later and saw she was in trouble.
The inquest heard Anna, from St Fagans, Cardiff, was found in the water without her snorkel and with blood and water in her mask.
She was pulled from the pool before being rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital but did not regain consciousness.
Coroner Kerrie Burge said Anna died the following day while a medical cause of death was given as immersion in water.
The inquest heard keen rower Anna was a 'strong swimmer with no current health concerns.'
She had previously been diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy in July 2016 after she was seizure free for three years.
The coroner said: '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.'
The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion at the documentary inquest in Pontypridd.
She said: 'Anna died following immersion in water. It is not possible to establish, on the balance of probabilities, how Anna came to be in difficulties in the water.'
Tributes were paid to the schoolgirl following her death as she was described as a 'talented young lady.'
Trevor Wing, the chair of Llandaff rowing club, said she was 'a keen rower who had been training hard all winter and was enjoying the recent water sessions'.
He said: '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.'