Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Popular Charlie Dunne was enjoying a day out at Croyde Bay beach with friends and family - a day after celebrating the end of his A-Level exams and finishing Aylesbury Grammar School
A 'smiley' teenager who died in a 'tragic accident' while on a family holiday had been bodyboarding in ankle-deep water when he fell, an inquest has heard
But whilst on the beach, the former Tesco employee, who made headlines earlier this year when he found a rare Cadbury's Creme Egg, suffered a catastrophic injury and went into cardiac arrest that left him fighting for his life
The 18-year-old, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, was initially airlifted to North Devon District Hospital before being transferred to another in Plymouth
Two days later on the evening of July 11 his parents made the "impossible" decision to turn his life support off, as Mirror Online reported yesterday
A report from the opening of his inquest in Plymouth stated: “Charlie had arrived at Croyde Bay to join his family for a holiday
"He quickly changed and joined his sister and family and friends to go bodyboarding
“He was in ankle deep water in a calm sea. He was holding his bodyboard with both hands when he fell
It is not known what caused Charlie to fall. “His sister and a lifeguard went to his aid
” The report added: “There are no suspicious circumstances." A full inquest will be held at a later date to establish the cause of his death
The day before the tragic incident on July 9, Charlie had been partying with pals at a Leavers' Ball to mark the end of his exams and finishing Aylesbury Grammar School
He had ambitions to go to university and study the craft of watchmaking. The "inquisitive" young man and talented rugby player also made headlines earlier this year when he found a rare white Cadbury's Creme Egg - and bagged £200 from it
He was on his way to a night out in Oxford with friends when he stopped the taxi and nipped into a nearby Co-Op for a snack
He told of how he wanted to save the money or 'put it towards a party holiday' to the likes of Magaluf or Ayia Napa before he started uni
Charlie's former headmaster, Mark Sturgeon, broke the devastating news to students and parents this week and confirmed counselling is being offered
In a statement Mr Sturgeon said: "It is with great sadness that we have to share with you the news that Charlie Dunne, one of our Year 13 students in Denson House, has died after suffering a terrible accident on a beach in North Devon, whilst on holiday
"Charlie had recently completed his A levels. He attended the Leavers’ Ball on Sunday 8 July and then travelled to North Devon for a holiday with family and some friends
"Whilst on the beach Charlie suffered a terrible accident that left him with a catastrophic injury to his vertebrae causing spinal injury and cardiac arrest
"His family took the impossible decision to turn off the life support that had been assisting Charlie since the accident
"Charlie died on Wednesday evening 11 July 2018. "Charlie was registered as an organ donor and we know there were three people waiting to receive major organs from him
"There is some comfort in him living on in others and potentially transforming their lives
" He added: "Charlie was lively, inquisitive, friendly and helpful young man. "He was always smiling, always happy and was well known across the whole school
"His impact on Denson House, on the rugby squad and his friends cannot be underestimated and our thoughts and support are with the family and the whole Aylesburian community
Read More Top Stories from Mirror Online "As can be imagined this tragic news has hit the school community very hard
It is important for individuals to express their feelings and also get the support they need
" Today the school plans to celebrate Charlie's life - and his seven years at the school - by gathering to swap loving memories of him
"Afterwards we expect that there will be plenty of informal chat, tears and laughter," Mr Sturgeon added
The school is also hoping to create a book about Charlie which will be given to his parents