'ALWAYS SMILING'
Tributes to ‘sweet’ girl, 17, who drowned when inflatable boat capsized in Bank Holiday horror
by Joe DugganA 'SWEET' 17-year-old girl who died in a boating accident on Bank Holiday Monday has been named locally as Gillian Davey.
Tributes have poured in for the teenager, who was rushed to hospital after she became trapped beneath an upturned rigid inflatable boat off the Cornish coast near Porthilly Rock in Wadebridge.
Gillian's death sparked a request by the RNLI to close Britain's beaches because there are not enough lifeguards on duty.
In a separate tragedy in Cornish waters about 23 miles away, a man died after being pulled from the sea at Treyarnon Bay in Padstow.
Gillian's devastated family said her death was a "freak boating accident".
Family member Martine Davey said: "Heaven has gained an angel earth has lost a diamond. So very sad and tragic.
'SO VERY SAD'
"Shine and sparkle so bright a huge hole in wadebridge which can never be filled.
"Shine bright sleep tight. Love and thoughts to all family and friends."
Friends in Gillian’s village of Egloshayle near Wadebridge, North Cornwall - described her as a "sweet girl from a lovely family".
A pal, who asked not to be identified, said: “She was so full of life. Always smiling, always saying hello.
"For this to happen on the threshold of her adult life is devastating.
"The whole village is feeling sick with the shock of it."
For this to happen on the threshold of her adult life is devastating.A friend of Gillian's
Others paid tribute to the Davey family as hard-working, community-minded people.
"They are such a close-knit family," said one.
"Her grandparents live right next door - they must be absolutely broken at the news.
"Stefan runs a successful electrical contracting business and he’s always helping out with local events.
"He sorts out the lighting and power for local festivals, Christmas lights - all that kind of thing."
Villagers said the loss of Gillian would be a reminder to locals and visitors that coastal waters and beaches had particular dangers with lifeguard cover absent because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I’ve no idea whether a nearby lifeguard might have made a difference," said one.
"But everyone - particularly teenagers - needs to think about the risks as well as the fun of being near the sea."
Kirsten Greenaway, a close friend of Gillian's family, said: "A very beautiful girl inside and out, she had a heart of gold, so tragic, we are heartbroken.
"Her lovely family loved her very much."
Devon and Cornwall Police had been called to reports of a number of people trapped under an inflatable boat in water near Porthilly Rock about 2.25pm.
Three casualties were taken to hospital but Gillian was later pronounced dead.
In a second tragedy on the Cornish coast on Monday, a man died after being pulled from the water at Treyarnon Bay at about 2.30pm.
Off-duty lifeguard Dan Wickins who tried to rescue the swimmer told BBC's Spotlight the sea conditions "were big".
He said: "We normally have rescue boats and more than one lifeguard. Given the conditions today it made it really tough.
"It was a rip that would have been the main cause of it.
"He said it was 30 seconds from being in the water to needing to be rescued so it happened so quickly."
On Monday, officers were also called to a third incident at around 2.30pm following reports a man had been pulled from the water unconscious by surfers in Porthtowan, Truro.
