British girl, 13, dies after being found unconscious in an Florida theme park pool as school pays tribute
- Anna Beaumont, 13, died just two days after she was found in Discovery Cove
A British schoolgirl has tragically died after being found unconscious in a… Florida theme park swimming pool.
Anna Beaumont, 13, died just two days after she was found in Discovery Cove around 11:25 a.m. on Tuesday.
Officers from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office rushed to the theme park, a sister park to SeaWorld.
The Welsh teenager was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, but a medical examiner concluded after her death that she had died in a drowning accident.
Staff at her school Radyr Comprehensive in Cardiff paid tribute today, with headteacher Andrew Williams calling Anna ‘a much-loved member of our school family’.
Anna Beaumont, 13, was found unconscious at Discovery Cove theme park in Orlando
Anna Beaumont, 13, died just two days after she was found in Discovery Cove
Mr Williams 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 our thoughts are with Anna’s family as they try to come to terms with their loss.
“Anna was a much-loved member of our school family and her absence will be deeply felt by the students, staff and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her spirit, kindness and presence touched so many lives.”
In an email to parents, the school said it would update staff on how to best support students in the coming weeks following the loss of the Year 8 student.
He urged them to “listen and encourage them to talk about their feelings.”
A State Department spokesperson said: “We are in contact with the family following the death of a child in the United States and are providing consular support at this difficult time.”
Discovery Cove describes itself on its website as an “all-inclusive day resort” and says it offers opportunities to swim with dolphins and snorkel among tropical fish. It is a sister park to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando.
In a statement, police said: ‘We regret to report that on May 29, 2024, 13-year-old Anna Beaumont was pronounced deceased in hospital. All information regarding the cause and manner of death must come from the Office of the Medical Examiner.”
A spokesperson for the venue stated that “staff responded to an emergency involving a guest” and contacted Orange County Fire & Rescue.
‘When emergency services arrived, they took over and took the guest to a nearby hospital. Our thoughts are with this family and out of respect for their privacy we will have no further comment.”
The drowning tragedy comes after fellow pupil Aryan Ghoniya, also 13, died two years ago while playing in the River Taff with friends after lessons.
Aryan – known to his family as the ‘little professor’ – was found in the water by emergency services 55 minutes later
Aryan gained a following on TikTok after posting a video mentioning 109 countries that received over a million hits.
