Britons drown at Goan resort
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.A British man and woman have drowned off the coast of Goa, the Foreign Office said today.
Stanley Horne and Liesel Clare Smith died on Sunday at the resort of Morjim.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that two British nationals drowned at Morjim beach in Goa on 6 April.
"We have informed their next of kin and are providing consular assistance."
The pair, who were both from Dover, Kent, were close friends who had met when they worked as nurses in the same hospital.
Mr Horne, 70, who was also a trained hospital engineer, had been living in Goa for the past four years, and Ms Smith, 37, had been on holiday visiting him when the tragedy occurred.
Mr Horne's daughter-in-law, Heather, said the pair had drowned after Ms Smith had got into difficulty as she swam in the water and he had tried to rescue her.
She said there were several witnesses on the beach who had seen what had happened.
"The sea was rough, it was an accident that could have happened anywhere," she said.
Mrs Horne, who is married to Mr Horne's eldest son, David, described him as a, "quiet, gentle man" who had fallen in love with India the first time he had gone there.
She said: "Our consolation is that he was where he would have wanted to be when he died."
Mr Horne also leaves two other sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Ms Smith is believed to be divorced with a son.
Post mortems are due to be carried out today and the bodies are then expected to be flown back to the UK.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments