A BRITISH girl was killed by a boat propeller while on a school trip in the Maldives.
Jenna Chan, a 15-year-old, tragically lost her life in a snorkelling accident while supporting the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), a British registered charity, on one of their research expeditions.
British-Singaporean dual national Jenna was a student at St Joseph’s International Institution.
On November 8, Jenna was allegedly beckoned into the water but within minutes was “sucked under” when the engine was switched on.
Her parents have said that more than a month after the tragic incident they are “still waiting for answers”.
Alan Chan and Jennifer Liauw shared that they were unable to reach their daughter Jenna during the excursion because the school policy required phones to be left behind during the trip.
A statement from the Maldives police service, as reported by The Times, revealed that the incident took place on the 8th of November 2024, while Jenna was snorkelling in the waters between Lux Maldives Resort and Dhidoo. It was stated that Jenna had been hit by the propellers of a boat during the outing.
Maldivian officials was unable to offer the family a post-mortem examination of the body.
The family also claim they have not been shown any witness statements from teachers and students who were with the 15-year-old at the time of her death.
They believe there was “no real investigation” into the accident, adding that there was a “chain of errors” throughout the excursion, they claim.
Jenna’s 17-year-old sister Alice has started a GoFundMe to raise awareness over the teen’s accident and help with legal fees while the family fight for answers.
The caption for the fundraiser reads: “My sister, 15 year old British-Singaporean Jenna Chan, was killed in a propeller accident during a school trip in the Maldives.
“There has been silence from the Maldivian government and all news about her has ceased.Â
“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.
“Please help support us during this tough time for our family and loved ones, and spread the word about her case.Â
“All donations will go towards our fight for Jenna and protection of all future children and tourists, by providing our Maldivian lawyers with the legal fees and financial support to take more cases just like this one.”
So far, £4,600 of its £10,000 has been raised.
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.”
