A 16-year-old British cheerleading coach has died after a tourist boat caught fire off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Abbie Lainton, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was on holiday with her family when the incident occurred.
Fatal Accident
Abbie suffered severe burns when the boat, carrying around 35 people, suddenly ignited and exploded. She was rushed to intensive care but died three days later. A fundraising page confirmed she died on July 30 in a “terrible accident”.
Tributes from Clubs
Abbie coached at Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club and was a former pupil at Tanwood School for Performing Arts. Both paid tribute. Swindon Lightning called her a “beautiful athlete and coach”, while Tanwood remembered her “huge smile”. Cheerleading champion Dillon Brandt also expressed his condolences.
Community Shock
Neighbours in Swindon said the family were “extremely upset” and had not been out much. The Foreign Office said it is providing consular support to Abbie’s family and assisting other British nationals affected.
