“World Fell Apart”: 3 Years After Equestrian Showjumper’s Tragic Swimming Mishap, Reports Unravel Riveting Details of Double Drowning

Open-water swimming escapades can often turn tragic in the blink of an eye. Each year, more than 300,000 people die due to drowning-related accidents worldwide. In the U.S. alone, an average of 3,500-4,000 Americans lose their lives each year to drowning-related accidents, while around 8,000 non-fatal drownings are also recorded each year. This implies that around 10 fatal drownings and 22 non-fatal drownings are recorded each day in the U.S. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, alcohol consumption while swimming is one of the major reasons for fatal drownings in adults since it impairs judgment, reduces coordination, and increases the chance of hypothermia.

The CDC further reveals that around 70 percent of all swimming and boating-related drownings involve alcohol and almost one in four emergency drowning hospitalizations is due to alcohol consumption. All these factors were recently involved in a coroner’s updated findings regarding a 2020 double drowning accident on the shores of Lake Taupo. Back in 2020, a former equestrian showjumper and her partner were found floating on the shores of Lake Taupo, and three years later, new reports unveil the events that unfolded.

Coroner issues new ruling on 2020 swimming mishap

Trevor Wiringi (50) and Helen Smith (49) belonging to Rotorua, were found floating dead on October 16, 2020, on the shores of Lake Taupo. Now, three years later, coroner Louella Dunn has revealed that the couple died of hypothermia because of consuming a lot of alcohol while swimming. Taupo locals had also informed authorities of people partying in hot pools around the area shortly before the couple died.

Reports also revealed that the deceased couple was partying with another couple, Sarah Rowland-Skleton, and Hemi Tamihana. Both couples were also denied entry at a local pub and Hemi Tamihana was also arrested the same evening for excessive drinking. Dunn revealed that Tamihana was arrested for driving drunk, with more than four times the legal alcohol limit.

They were further denied service at another bar, after which all four people headed to Lake Taupo and went into a thermal pool. Eventually, only Wiringi and Smith were left near the lake and early the next morning, a local resident reported two bodies floating in shallow water. In her report, coroner Louella Dunn revealed that the couple died from hypothermia due to a high blood alcohol content.

According to an Otago Daily News report, Dunn further claimed, “Both Trevor and Helen were at least five times over the legal blood alcohol level. It is clear that the amount of alcohol consumed by both Trevor and Helen had affected their judgement and their ability to keep themselves safe in the water.” Soon after Smith’s death, condolences started pouring in for the former equestrian showjumper.

People remember Helen Smith

Reports indicated that Helen Smith struggled with alcoholism and d*** dependency. Shortly after her passing away, she was remembered by her friends and family. One person claimed that she was a former horse showjumper representative who had deviated from her path after bidding goodbye to the industry.

Another individual supported this claim and revealed, “She achieved a lot then one day her world fell apart. Something happened to her and she completely lost herself and she lost her way from then on. She was a mess, her direction was lost in human terms, she became a woman who lost herself.”

Read more: After Multiple Horrifying Drowning Incidents, New Jersey Announces a ‘Free for All’ Swimming Deal

One of Smith’s friends was heartbroken to learn about her death. She claimed that she had missed Smith and had not been in touch with her for a while. As friends and family recover from the loss of their loved ones, authorities also expressed their condolences to the victims of both families. Additionally, coroner Dunn also explained how swimming in cold water while drunk can become fatal for anybody.

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