British girl, 13, died while snorkelling on family holiday at Florida theme park

It is ‘not possible’ to establish exactly how a 13-year-old girl died while snorkelling on holiday in Florida, a coroner has concluded.

Anna Beaumont was visiting the Discovery Cove theme park in Orlando with her family last May when she was found unresponsive in a natural-style pool.

She was snorkelling with her dad Peter in the pool which featured ‘shallow and deeper areas, coral reefs, rocky structures and wildlife’.

Peter moved away from her to see her younger brother, and about 10 minutes later he heard a lifeguard whistle and saw Anna was in trouble.

She was rushed to hospital after being found without her snorkel with blood and water in her mask, but did not regain consciousness and died the next day.

An inquest into her death has been held in Pontypridd, and coroner Kerrie Burge said there was ‘no evidence’ to confirm how Anna came to be unresponsive in the water.

A strong swimmer and keen rower, Anna, from St Fagans in Cardiff, had previously been diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy, after she was seizure free for three years.

Ms Burge said: ‘Whilst a small risk of seizures remained, Anna had not experienced any.

‘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.’

While Anna’s cause of death was given as immersion in water, the coroner said during her conclusion that ‘It is not possible to establish, on the balance of probabilities, how Anna came to be in difficulties in the water.’

Tributes have been paid to the ‘talented young lady’ by Anna’s headteacher and the chair of her rowing club.

Trevor Wing, 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 added: ‘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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