Friends of Qld drowning victim take to social media to remember the ‘beautiful soul’

The mum who drowned while swimming with her daughter at a popular Queensland beach on the first day of school holidays has been named.

Tributes have poured in for the “beautiful mother” who died while swimming with her daughter at a popular southeast Queensland beach on Monday morning.

Natasha Thorpe, 34, was swimming with her 11-year-old daughter at unpatrolled First Bay at Coolum Beach shortly before 7am when the pair were carried out to sea.

The young girl swam to shore but her mother was found unresponsive in the water by surfers a short time later. Despite the best efforts of surfers and off-duty lifeguards to perform CPR until paramedics arrived, Ms Thorpe was pronounced deceased at the scene.

It’s understood the mother and child were holidaying at the popular Sunshine Coast beach with other family members.

Toowoomba mother Natasha Thorpe has been identified as the victim of a drowning at a Coolum Beach, Sunshine Coast

It’s a tragic start to Life Saving Queensland’s season, on one of the first day of school holidays.

Friends have taken to social media to rememberer the Toowoomba woman.

“She was a beautiful soul,” one wrote on Facebook.

Natasha Thorpe has been remembered by friends as a caring mum.

“Rest in peace Tash, you were a beautiful mother, thinking of your family,” another said.

“This is just so sad, horrifying for everyone involved,” another friend wrote.

It’s the first fatality of the 2020/2021 season. Last season, 11 people died on Queensland beaches, including three at the Sunshine Coast.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.