Latest news with #ShannonSmith
BBC News
05-07-2025
- BBC News
Tribute to 'sweetest' man who died while on holiday in Skegness
A family have paid tribute to a 29-year-old man who died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Skegness beach. Aaron Keightley, from Beaumont Leys in Leicester, was enjoying his first holiday with friends before he died on Monday, his family Lifeguards Lincolnshire confirmed a man was pulled from the water and despite efforts to resuscitate him, was pronounced dead at the scene. His sister Shannon Smith said she would "miss him forever". Paramedics and ambulance crews, including an air ambulance, also attended. On a crowdfunding page to help pay for Mr Keightley's funeral arrangements, Ms Smith said "the current took him so quickly", and warned people to be careful in the sea. In a statement on behalf of the family, she said: "Aaron was the most kind, sweetest, loveable and loyal man ever to exist. "His presence was valued so much, he was loved... beyond belief. I am going to miss him forever. "How are we meant to continue as a family without him?"A spokesperson for RNLI Lifeguards Lincolnshire previously said: "Our thoughts go to the family and friends affected by the incident, along with many of the beach visitors who witnessed the tragic events at the time."
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE My brother was knocked down by a wave in knee-deep water and drowned in 30 seconds while on his first friends' holiday
The holidaymaker who died after being pulled out of the sea on his first friends' holiday was knocked off his feet by a wave in knee-deep water, his distraught sister said. Aaron Keightley, 29, died on Monday after the tragedy at Skegness, Lincolnshire, where he had been enjoying the summer heatwave. The labourer - pictured below on the same beach just 24 hours earlier - was taken by the current, his sister Shannon Smith said. Ms Smith has launched an online fundraiser to help cover the costs of bringing her 'selfless and loving' older sibling's body home to Leicester, as well as his funeral. The 26-year-old told MailOnline Mr Keightley had 'always enjoyed family holidays, but this was his first proper holiday away with friends'. Speaking from her home in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, she added: 'He went with two friends and they were having the best time. 'He'd been so excited for it. He went last Friday for a week, and they'd been to the beach every day.' Ms Smith said her brother and his friends were 'just messing about in the waves, no more than knee deep', when a 'really big one' knocked them off their feet. She added: 'Aaron could swim, but he wasn't the strongest swimmer, and he was just dragged out and apparently started panicking. 'One of his friends tried to help him, but he said by the time he got to Aaron it was already too late. 'However, he stayed with him the whole time, and did everything he could, even to the point where he was almost drowning himself.' She said that eventually, with the help of another man who appeared with a dinghy, they managed to get him back out of the sea. 'Aaron's friends are absolutely distraught. They are suffering from survivors' guilt - even though what happened wasn't their fault. It was a tragic accident. 'Apparently it happened in 30 seconds. They just did not realise how strong the current could be. There needs to be more warning signs.' Ms Smith took the picture of her brother on the beach when she visited the trio in the seaside resort on Sunday. 'He was so happy', she continued. 'I told him to be careful, and to make sure he was eating and drinking properly in the hot weather - but I didn't ever imagine something like this would happen.' The county's RNLI Lifeguards told in a Facebook post how they recovered an 'unconscious member of the public from the water south of central beach, after he got into difficulty in the surf.' It added: 'Despite their best efforts to resuscitate him, the casualty sadly passed away at the scene. Our thoughts go to the family and friends affected by the incident, along with many of the beach visitors who witnessed the tragic events at the time.' East Midlands Ambulance Service and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance also attended the incident on Monday afternoon – the second beach fatality in the area in as many days. On Saturday afternoon a teenage boy vanished from Anderby Creek, between the resorts of Skegness and Mablethorpe. A body was recovered in the early hours of Sunday. Those tragedies came just a matter of weeks after hero holidaymaker Alexandru Melei, 60, died after wading into the sea at Ingoldmells, also near Skegness, after hearing twin girls screaming for help – only to be overwhelmed by the swell. Another of Mr Keightley's sisters, Kayley Keightley, 31, said that when the grieving family visited the beach on Tuesday, they only saw one lifeguard on the beach and another in a hut. 'There needs to be more of them for a beach that has hundreds and hundreds of people on a nice day', she said. Referring to the weekend tragedy at Anderby Creek, Ms Keightley added: 'There will be another tragedy - Aaron's was the second one on the same stretch of many people are losing their lives.' Mr Keightley and his friends were said to have been been paddling in a section of water outside the area marked by flags which is monitored by the lifeguards. Ms Smith added: 'Aaron was too kind. He'd do anything for anyone, and give you his last penny. 'He was a big kid at heart, and just wanted to be loved. He hadn't met anyone serious yet, but I am sure he would have. 'Now he'll never have children. He still had so much to give to the world. It's so sad.' The family launched an online appeal for financial help after being quoted over £8,000 to bring Aaron's body back from hospital in Hull and hold a funeral in Leicester. Outlining the family's 'heart wrenching pain' in a message alongside the fundraising appeal, Ms Smith said her brother - who lived with his mother, stepfather and younger brother, Alex, 17, in Beamont Leys - deserves a great send-off'. She wrote of the tragedy: 'The current took him so quickly and there is no fight against the sea!' By Wednesday evening it had raised £1,600 of the £8,000 target. A spokesman for the RNLI said: 'On the afternoon of Monday 30 June, a man got into difficulty in the surf approximately 200 metres south of the flagged area where RNLI lifeguards patrol at Skegness Beach. 'Lifeguards on shoreline patrol between the flags were alerted to the incident by a member of the public and responded immediately. 'They pulled the casualty from the water using their rescue board. 'The team performed CPR until they could hand him into the care of the ambulance service. Very sadly, a later update confirmed the man had died.' The spokesman said an RNLI lifeguard supervisor and three lifeguards who were on the beach responded to the incident. He added: 'Our lifeguard team's thoughts go to the family and friends affected by the incident, along with the many beach visitors who witnessed the tragic events at the time. 'The RNLI provides a beach lifeguard service at Skegness on behalf of East Lindsey District Council. 'We provide a recommendation on when and where our lifeguard patrols could be and it's the Council who agree and grant us permission.' Romanian Mr Melei died on May 25 while on a trip to the UK to visit friends. His daughter later told how the ex-army medic had been walking along the promenade with his wife and friend when they heard two girls screaming in the water. The friend managed to rescue one of the children but Mr Melei was overcome by the swell and died in hospital. Both children emerged unscathed. The family are raising money to bring Aaaron home via GoFundMe if you would like to donate.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- The Independent
‘Selfless and loving' man, 29, dies after being pulled from sea at popular holiday spot
A 29-year-old man died on the beach after going on his first holiday with friends to Skegness, his heartbroken family has said. Aaron Keightley was pulled from the sea by lifeguards south of the central beach in Skegness, Lincolnshire, at around 3.30pm on Monday. A fundraiser has been set up by his sister Shannon Smith on GoFundMe, aiming to collect £8,000 to help the family get his body transported home and cover funeral costs. Mr Keightley's heartbroken sister said: 'My brother lost his whole future. He went on his first friends' holiday and lost his life to the sea on Skegness beach. 'Not only do we as a family have to get through this heart-wrenching pain but we have to now somehow get him back home from Hull, before we can even start to grieve his loss which can cost us thousands. 'We really want to give him everything and more and show him how loved and adored he is and always will be, there will never be another person like him so selfless and loving.' She said her brother would 'give anyone his last pound' and he deserved a 'great send off'. 'He will forever be 29. No age to lose your life - his mum, dad and siblings are hurting beyond belief,' she added. A RNLI Lifeguards representative in Lincolnshire told The Independent: 'At 3.30pm yesterday, lifeguards in Skegness recovered an unconscious member of the public from the water south of central beach, after he got into difficulty in the surf. 'Despite their best efforts to resuscitate him, the casualty sadly passed away at the scene. Our thoughts go to the family and friends affected by the incident, along with many of the beach visitors who witnessed the tragic events at the time.' A 60-year-old man died in May after trying to help two children who appeared to be in distress in the sea near Skegness.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
North Carolina Zoo named best in the country for second year in a row
ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP)—The North Carolina Zoo has received national attention recently; Newsweek named it the best in the country. Shannon Smith gives us all the details in this week's Zoo Filez. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Courier-Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Rock star vibes: Sky home is ‘bold, luxurious, and unapologetically different'
A glamorous sky home complete with a cinema, sauna, marble-encased bath and hidden lingerie closet has hit the market with a $2.6m plus price tag. The party pad on the Gold Coast is described by Smith & Co director Shannon Smith as having rock star edge with its bold industrial styling. 'This isn't your typical white-on-white coastal apartment,' said Mr Smith. 'It's been designed for someone who wants to make a statement — it's bold, luxurious, and unapologetically different.' The boutique Broadwater sub-penthouse at 6/446 Marine Pde, Biggera Waters takes up the entire sixth floor of the boutique LUXE on Marine building. The three-bedroom 241 sqm residence has undergone a 12-month renovation to set it apart from the typical coastal home. MORE: Theme park legend's crypto hideaway hits the market Zac Efron's Aussie long lunch haunt is on the market With a private lift entry, sweeping Broadwater views, and interiors that fuse polished concrete, black steel and warm textures, the his home is anything but ordinary. 'This home will suit a discerning buyer — an executive couple, someone relocating from Sydney or Melbourne, or a local downsizer who still wants wow-factor and space,' Mr Smith said. 'It's luxurious, low-maintenance, and unlike anything else on the market.' The main bedroom includes a lavish primary suite with marble-encased bath, walk-in robe and hidden lingerie closet. '(The lingerie closet) is a mirror in the bedroom which is a push to open, and has a cupboard behind it,' he said. 'Inside it looks like a rack from Honey Birdette with beautiful hangers and every piece hanging up. 'It does seem odd to hear, but when you see it – it just makes sense. 'It would be a great hidden shoe/sneaker cupboard as well – whatever you treasure. 'The hidden aspect adds to the fun and glamour of the home.' The kitchen has premium Gaggenau appliances and a butler's pantry while the cinema has velvet-draped walls and tiered seating. There is also a 32sq m northeast-facing balcony that offers uninterrupted Broadwater views. Property records reveal the apartment last changed hands for $1.38m in 2012 while it was listed for rent in 2018 at $1050 per week. PropTrack data shows the median unit price in Biggera Waters is $700,000, up 10.9 per cent over 12 months.
