A British teenager has died after being hit by a speedboat while snorkelling near his family's yacht in the South Pacific. Eddie Jarman, 14, was checking the anchor of the vessel off the island of Mo'orea, French Polynesia, on August 9 when the incident occurred.
The family, from Sussex, had sold their home and set sail on a round-the-world trip in 2018. Eddie was with his parents Barbara and Harry and sister Amelie, 13, at the time. Despite desperate efforts by his family to save him, he died from his injuries.
Eddie, who played piano, violin and double bass to a high standard, was due to start a scholarship at Hurstpierpoint College in January 2021. The family have since returned to the UK and plan to bury him in the Sussex village of West Hoathly, where he grew up.
In a statement, the family said the sailing community had been "amazing" in supporting them through the "incredibly traumatic" time. They also launched a campaign to raise £100,000 to establish the Eddie Jarman Young Musicians Charity, which will fund music tuition for talented children in the UK and French Polynesia.
Eddie's mother, Barbara Genda, said: "Eddie loved music more than anything. He often said that he could not imagine living without music, either playing it or listening to it. In his memory let other children enjoy music as much as he has in his short but wonderful life."
