British schoolgirl killed in horrific snorkelling incident after being ‘dragged under water by boat propeller’
A British schoolgirl has died in a horrific snorkelling accident after being dragged under water by a boat propeller whilst on a school trip to the Maldives.
Jenna Chan, 15, was killed on November 8 during a week-long excursion with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme.
The British-Singaporean student from St Joseph’s International Institution in Singapore was with her classmates when the boat’s engine suddenly turned on, pulling her underneath.
Fellow students described the day as a “nightmare” as they witnessed the tragic incident between Lux Maldives Resort and Dhidoo.
According to Maldivian news outlet The Edition, Jenna and her peers had just entered the sea when the boat’s engine activated unexpectedly.
The vessel then reversed into the group of schoolchildren, with Jenna being dragged under by the propeller.
A Maldives Police Service report confirmed: “On November 8 2024, during [an] excursion while snorkelling between Lux Maldives Resort and Dhidoo, an incident occurred and Miss Jenna [Chan] was struck by the boat’s propellers.”
The students had reportedly been hoping to swim with dolphins on the trip, and Jenna had followed all given instructions.
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Over a month after the tragedy, Jenna’s heartbroken parents Alan Chan and Jennifer Liauw say they are “still waiting for answers”.
The couple were unable to contact their daughter during the trip due to the school’s no-phone policy and regret never having “properly said goodbye”.
They claim Maldivian officials could not provide a post-mortem examination of their daughter’s body. The parents also say they have not been shown any witness statements from teachers and students who were present during the tragic incident.
“We know the guides were not on the boat at the time she entered the water,” they told The Times.
The family claims there was “no real investigation” into the accident and believe there was a “chain of errors” throughout the excursion. Jenna’s sister Alice, 17, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise awareness and help with legal fees.
“The circumstances leading to her sudden death and negligence of the company is truly shocking to our family and her teenage friends, who witnessed her death,” Alice wrote on the fundraising page. In a heartfelt tribute, Jenna’s parents told The Times: “Jenna was just sunshine. She was the warmest, smiliest person. She held the family together for us.”
They added: “She was her sister Alisha’s soulmate. She wanted to be a geriatrician because she loved old people. She was always helpful.”
Jenna was laid to rest on November 15 in Singapore. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in the Maldives and are in contact with the local authorities.”