Who was Leanne Gregory? 36-year-old British woman dies while trying to rescue her two sons during snorkeling trip in the Bahamas

A British woman, who died trying to save her two sons when they were swept away to sea in the Bahamas, has been identified as Leanne Gregory. Her husband has paid tribute to her, saying she was a hero "in life and in death." Leanne, who was from Stapleford in Nottinghamshire county, had been snorkeling with her husband and sons when the boys were swept away by a strong current, according to local police. Though the children were rescued from the water off the island of Bimini on Tuesday, Leanne could not be saved, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

'Mum died an absolute hero'

In a post on Facebook, Nathan Gregory said the loss of his wife was "unimaginable for our family".


"She was the purest, most amazing wife, mother and friend to have ever walked this Earth," Nathan wrote, adding: "I will never get over this, she was my soulmate, my childhood sweetheart, my one and only. The foundation of my entire family and the strength that held us all together. My boys had to witness something nobody should ever have to see of any age, but they know Mum died an absolute hero."

Nathan said he had set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe for his sons after the tragic loss.

What did the police say?

In a post on the fundraising page, Nathan described how his wife held on to one of their sons until he was rescued "but didn't have the energy to save herself."

He added: "I just have to be thankful for the hero she was in life and in death, and totally grateful for the fact my boys got out safely."

In a statement on social media, the Bahamas police said that officers had received reports shortly after 10:00 (local time) on Tuesday that a woman had been found unresponsive at the North Bimini Ferry Dock.

The police added that Leanne was administered CPR and later taken to a local medical facility, but was confirmed dead there. The force said an autopsy would be carried out but foul play was not suspected.

Bimini is a small group of islands between the largest landmass in the Bahamas, Andros, and Miami in the United States. It is the closest point in the Bahamas to the US mainland. The islands were once home to the American author Ernest Hemingway.