Teenager speedboat death inquest set to resume

Updated

An inquest will resume today into the death of a teenage girl who died after she was trapped under a capsized speedboat.

Emily Gardner, 14, from Gloucester, died in the Brixham Harbour accident while on holiday with a friend's family in May last year.

The teenager was on the 16ft vessel along with two other schoolgirls, both 15, and a 50-year-old man when it overturned.

Lifeboats, coastguard teams and a helicopter as well as specialist divers joined the rescue operation.

Two men aged 18 and 50 from the Worcester area also helped with the rescue, using jet-skis, before the emergency services arrived.

The Chosen Hill School pupil was taken to Torbay District Hospital in a critical condition but died a short while later.

Following the teenager's death, her family said in a statement: "Our beautiful Emily was a caring loving, gentle daughter and sister.

"She was full of life and had the world ahead of her. She was our diamond, now shining bright in the sky.

"She will be missed and forever in our hearts."

South Devon Coroner Ian Arrow will resume the inquest in Torquay in front of a jury. The hearing is expected to last two days.

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