Family of girl found dead in pool on holiday pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’
Anna Beaumont, 13, from Cardiff, died in Orlando last week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The family of a young girl who died while on holiday in Florida have described her as a “beautiful soul” who “will never be forgotten”.
Anna Beaumont, 13, from Cardiff, was found unresponsive in a pool at Discovery Cove in Orlando on May 28.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said she was taken to hospital in critical condition but died the next day.
Her family said in a statement: “Anna was a beautiful soul who has been taken from us in a tragic accident.
“We are devastated by her loss, but she will never be forgotten.
“We would like to thank the emergency response teams and hospital staff in Orlando who tried so hard to save Anna’s life.
“We will not be making any further statements and ask for privacy at this incredibly difficult time.”
Andrew Williams, the head teacher at Anna’s school, Radyr Comprehensive, described her as a “cherished member of our school family” in a statement shared with the BBC on Sunday.
He 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.”
Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive resort and sister park of SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando.
The company released a statement about the incident to local media, which said: “Our staff responded to an emergency involving a guest yesterday (May 28).
“Our team provided care and contacted Orange County Fire & Rescue.
“When emergency personnel arrived, they took over care and transported the guest to a nearby hospital.
“Out of respect for privacy of our guests, we do not provide any health information. Our thoughts are with this family.”