Schoolgirl Jenna Chan, 15, was killed in a propeller accident while on a schooltrip to the Maldives while helping the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme
A British schoolgirl has been killed in a horror propeller accident during a trip to the Maldives.
Jenna Chan, 15, died while on a week-long school trip to the popular holiday destination during an assignment with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme – a British registered charity. Students with Jenna at the time described the day as a “nightmare” as, shortly after she got into the water, she was sucked under the boat.
A report by the Maldives Police Service confirmed the student died during a “snorkelling excursion”. The report, shown to The Times, added: “On 8th November 2024, during [an] excursion while snorkelling between Lux Maldives Resort and Dhidoo, an incident occurred and Miss Jenna [Chan] was struck by the boat’s propellers.”
Jenna’s parents, Alan Chan and Jennifer Liauw, are still looking for answers after the horror incident. They told the publication: “Jenna was just sunshine. She was the warmest, smiliest person. She held the family together for us.
“She was her sister Alisha’s soulmate. She wanted to be a geriatrician because she loved old people. She was always helpful.
“We know the guides were not on the boat at the time she entered the water…it’s almost Christmas and we still have no answers. We want to know what happened. The whole truth [and] if somebody was negligent.”
Jenna’s sister, Alice, has demanded answers from the government in the Maldives and started a fundraiser. She wrote: “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. 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. 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.”
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Jenna, a British-Singaporean dual national, was a pupil at St Joseph’s International Institution, a private school in Singapore which organised the mandatory trip for its grade nine pupils. A spokesman for the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme said they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by the tragedy.
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.”
