Doncaster father tried to save daughter before both drowned
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An inquest has heard that a father died after jumping into the sea in an attempt to rescue his daughter, who had been dragged into the water while the pair were fishing on holiday at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall. John Collins, 66, and Samantha Collins, 32, both from Doncaster, were pulled from the water on 26 July but were pronounced dead at the scene, in a case that has drawn attention to the dangers faced by beachgoers and highlighted the risks bystanders take when attempting rescues.
The inquest, opened at Cornwall Coroner's Court in Truro, was told the father and daughter lived at the same address in Bennetthorpe, Doncaster, and had been fishing when Samantha was swept into the sea. Emergency services, including the RNLI and coastguard, were called to the scene at about 21:45 BST after reports that two people had been pulled from the water; the inquest has now been adjourned until 19 July 2027. Police also said they are still trying to locate an orange or peach-coloured handbag believed to have been carried by Samantha, which is thought to contain sentimentally significant items the family hope to recover.
- Doncaster father died trying to save his drowning daughter in Newquay.
- Inquest opened in Truro, adjourned until July 2027.
- Police seek daughter's missing handbag with sentimental items.
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Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, is a popular stretch of coastline known for strong currents and heavy surf, which makes it a common destination for tourists but also a location where sea conditions can turn dangerous quickly. John Collins, 66, and his daughter Samantha Collins, 32, both from Doncaster, were on holiday and fishing at the beach when Samantha was pulled into the water; John went in after her in an attempt to save her.
Both were later recovered from the sea and pronounced dead at the scene, prompting an official inquest, which is the legal process used in England and Wales to establish the facts surrounding an unexpected or unexplained death. Cases like this often draw wider attention because they touch on the risks faced by people at the coast, including those who go to help someone in trouble in the water.
The inquest into their deaths has been opened at Cornwall Coroner's Court in Truro, where a coroner formally records the circumstances before any fuller hearing takes place. This initial stage typically covers basic facts, such as identification and location, while a more detailed hearing to establish the full circumstances follows at a later date.
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