Tragedy as woman who loved sea died after getting caught in 'vortex' (2025)

Emily Sherwin was studying marine conservation at university. Her family said she 'lit up every room' and had see the sea as a 'safe place'

A young woman who loved the sea died after she got caught in an underwater vortex. Emily Sherwin went missing after a dive off Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage in Dorset, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

She had seen the sea as a 'safe place' and was much-loved by family and friends, who said she 'lit up every room'. The 20-year-old had been studying marine conservation at the University of Plymouth.

Ms Sherwin, from Poole, had “loved” diving since completing her Padi qualification the previous summer, an inquest in Bournemouth was told.

Coroner Richard Middleton said that a search was launched after she had become separated from her dive buddy after she became caught in the underwater current.

Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Middleton said: “Upon entry to the water, Ms Sherwin has got caught in a vortex, she became separated from her dive buddy and failed to return to the surface.

"An extensive search was launched by a number of agencies but Ms Sherwin could not be found.”

Her disappearance sparked a large-scale search. It involved the Coastguard, police, RNLI and local boat-users.

The coroner said he was unable to provide a cause of death because Ms Sherwin’s body had not been recovered.

Ellen Sherwin, Ms Sherwin’s mother, said in a statement read to the hearing that her daughter had been “passionate” about nature.

She said: “She had loved her first year at university, enjoying both her course and the social life and was looking forward to sharing a house with friends. She had been active in the sailing society and enjoyed a university sailing holiday.

“She is outgoing and very social.” The student had begun scuba diving in the summer of 2023.

She “immediately loved it”, her mother said. She said: “She was passionate about the natural world, particularly the sea world, her hero was David Attenborough.

"She started diving a year before and immediately loved it. She described a deep sense of calm when under the sea, ironically she described it as a safe place.”

In a statement issued after Ms Sherwin’s disappearance, her family said: “We are heartbroken at the loss of Emily, but eternally grateful for the 20 wonderful years we had with her, and finding comfort in the fact that she was doing something she loved.

“Emily was unique: high spirited, outgoing, loving and loyal. She lit up every room. Emily adored the sea and loved sailing and diving. She was looking forward to an exciting career in marine conservation.

“We would like to thank all involved in the attempts to find Emily: the RNLI and coastguard teams, the police divers and all at Parkstone Yacht Club who took over 30 boats to join the search.

"The search operation was a testimony to the impact she had upon everyone she met and the love we all share for her. We will miss her forever.”