Quicksand blamed for death at Antigua resort

A coroner has blamed quicksand for the death of a British holidaymaker in Antigua.

An inquest said the mother of two, who was staying at the Jolly Beach Resort, had drowned after becoming trapped in quicksand while watching the sunset.

She had been staying at the five-star resort in January to help celebrate her father's second marriage.

According to the Daily Mail, there were no warnings of quicksand on the beach, even though other guests had reported problems with quicksand.

TravelMole has contacted the resort's UK PR and marketing representative for a statement and is waiting for a response.

Recording an accidental verdict, coroner Anne Hind said: "She just took a stroll along the beach and got into difficulties in very deep sand - quicksand. It is frightening how quickly it all happened.

"Her family went to look for her but it was going dark. It was easy to sink deep into the sand. The beach sloped and it became pitch black. The tide that night was very rough and high."

Nicola Raybone, 33, had been staying at the resort on the western coast of the island with her son and daughter.

According to the Daily Mail reports, she had met for a drink with friends at the bar and, when the rest of the group had gone for dinner, had decided to stay behind to watch the sunset.

The inquest was told that she walked out towards the sea near the Jolly Beach Resort and had become stuck in sinking sands.

A search was called by family, friends and hotel staff when her sandals and mobile phone were found in the hotel bar.

As it got dark, screams were heard and the police were called, but nobody could find her.

Eventually her body was found close to the shoreline near the resort.

by Bev Fearis