A fundraiser set up for the family of a British teenager killed in a tour boat explosion off the Dominican Republic has raised more than £20,000 in just two days.
Tragic accident during family holiday
Abbie Lainton, 16, from Swindon, was on a family holiday when the catamaran she was travelling on caught fire near Soana Island on July 27. She suffered severe burns and died in hospital three days later. Her younger brother and sister were among more than 20 tourists injured in the incident.
The Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support to Abbie's family and assisting other affected British nationals.
Tributes from clubs and schools
Abbie coached athletes at Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club and was a former pupil at Tanwood School for Performing Arts. Both organisations paid tribute to her, describing her as a 'beautiful athlete and coach' and a 'huge smile' performer.
Cheerleading champion Dillon Brandt, star of the Netflix docuseries Cheer, also expressed his condolences, calling Abbie 'an amazing athlete and coach'.
The fundraising page, organised by Becky Jameson, states that Abbie 'had her whole life ahead of her' and was looking forward to receiving her GCSE results. It adds: 'For Abbie. Forever 16, forever loved and never forgotten.'
Neighbours in Swindon expressed shock, saying the family has 'not been out the house much' since the tragedy.
