Dad, 66, desperately tried to save daughter, 32, after she was dragged into sea at surfing beach before both drowned

A DAD and a daughter drowned after he desperately tried to save her as she was dragged out to sea at a popular surfing beach, an inquest heard. John Collins, 66, and Samantha Collins, 32, both died on Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall on Sunday July 26. John Collins, 66, and Samantha Collins, 32, both died on Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall Credit: Glyn Thomas An inquest into their deaths was held at Cornwall Coroner’s Court in Truro Credit: BPM The inquest at Cornwall Coroner’s Court in Truro heard on Tuesday that John, a retired technical manager from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, had been on holiday in Newquay with his daughter Samantha and wife Adele Collins. The pair were pulled out of the water unconscious by surfers and beachgoers and sadly were pronounced dead at the scene. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Assistant Coroner for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Emma Hillson, told the court: “John and Samantha were fishing on rocks when Samantha was dragged into the sea. “John tried to save her but very sadly was unable to do so and both lost their lives.” The pair were pulled out of the water unconscious by surfers Credit: Plymouth Plus Jamie Stockwell revealed how he plunged into the sea to save Samantha In both cases Ms Hillson gave a provisional cause of death as drowning and adjourned the inquest until 19 July 2027. The 750-metre-long Fistral Beach has massive winter wave swells and is known as the “home of British surfing”, drawing up to one million visitors each year. Witness Jamie Stockwell previously revealed how he plunged into the sea fully dressed in a bid to save Samantha. He said: “I jumped in with all my clothes on. I didn’t realise how deep it was. It was very powerful swell, and I was lucky I wasn’t another casualty. Most read in The Sun “We were being hurled on to the rocks. I managed to push her up and her boyfriend pulled her up by the arms and started to try to give her mouth-to-mouth. “We tried to give her CPR for about ten minutes. I was trying to keep her partner calm as he was in pieces.” Sand Phoenix, who was on the Beach when the tragedy unfolded, revealed he “sprinted” up to help after seeing John go in after his daughter. The 33-year-old added: “He had been pulled out of the water but had been in there about seven minutes. “I had an adrenaline pen which I jabbed him with and tried to give him oxygen but his lungs were full of water and there was no response. “The paramedics arrived and carried on trying to give CPR. He was still wearing his trousers so I don’t think he had been swimming. “It looks like they had been walking near the rocks and had fallen in.” One eyewitness who was staying in a van overlooking the beach said: “First thing I heard was a man shouting ‘we need ropes, they are drowning’. “I made my way down there and there were two people in the water, a lady next to me spotted a body floating in the water and the other one was already on the beach with people. “A woman on the cliff was desperately trying to ring her husband and daughter but neither was picking up.” Cops earlier said Samantha entered the water carrying a peach or orange coloured handbag which has not been recovered. The leather-style bag is said to contain a number of personal items of “great sentimental value to her loved ones” as the force appeal for it to be handed in if found. Cops said in a statement: “Police were called by the South Western Ambulance Service at around 9.45pm on Sunday 26 July following reports that two people had been recovered from the water at Fistral Beach, Newquay. “Emergency services attended and a cordon was put in place, which has since been removed. “Sadly, a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s were pronounced deceased at the scene. “Their families have been informed, and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.”