Dad, daughter mourned after being knocked by ‘freak wave’ at Mullion Cove

A double tragedy has struck a family holiday when a father and his daughter were swept to their deaths by a wave that struck a harbour wall.

A heartbroken family has paid tribute to a dad and his “adorable” daughter who were swept to their deaths after being knocked from a wall into the sea by a “freak” wave.

Matthew Philip Smith, 47, and Bonnie Marie Smith, 26, were killed after being washed from the harbour wall at Mullion Cove in Cornwall, in southwest England, during stormy weather on November 2.

An inquest into their deaths has opened in the UK with a full hearing to follow.

The family, from Gloucestershire, were on holiday at the time of the double tragedy.

Ms Smith’s brothers raised the alarm after realising their dad and sister had been hurled into the water, The Falmouth Packet reported.

Horrified witnesses described sea conditions as savage, with waves crashing over the harbour wall from the “boiling” sea.

Matthew Philip Smith and his daughter Bonnie, pictured here years ago, were killed by a freak wave during family holiday in Cornwall.

The pair were on a family holiday along with Ms Smith’s two brothers.

Mr Smith and his daughter were winched from the water and taken to hospital before their deaths were confirmed.

Mr Smith’s devastated father, James Smith, 71, fought back tears as he paid tribute to his son and granddaughter, who worked together as engineers at British telco Openreach.

“Matthew was my best friend in the whole world,” he told The Sun.
“I miss him so much. He was loved by everyone. His family loved him and his engineers at work loved him.

“Bonnie was an absolutely adorable young woman who had followed in her father’s footsteps to become an engineer at the same company.

“She was just lovely. I was so proud of both of them.

“I cannot believe they are no longer here with us. November has been a horrible, horrible month.”

The pair was killed at Mullion Cove in Cornwall, UK. Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Mr Smith was a manager and covered the southwest of England for Openreach.

He and Ms Smith had been in Cornwall with on a family trip with Mr Smith’s other children Mitchel, 22, and Oliver, 20.

“They knew the area and were having a break there for a couple of days,” Mr Smith’s father James said.

“I have been told the wave that swept them away was just a freak wave, five metres high, maybe more. It is just heartbreaking.”

Ms Smith’s mum Theresa praised her “beautiful and precious” “baby girl” in a heart-wrenching Facebook post.

Writing two days after the tragedy, Theresa wrote: “Me and my boys need time to come to terms with the tragic events of Monday evening when my baby girl was taken away from us.

“Whoever had the privilege to know my boo would know how beautiful and precious she really is and always will be and will be forever in our hearts.

Ms Smith has been described as ‘absolutely adorable’ and her father as ‘wonderful’.

Ms Smith’s mother paid tribute to her daughter in a devastating post on social media.

“My two boys have been so strong and amazing – not only have they lost their sister, they have lost their dad.”

A shocked neighbour told Sun Online: “It is heartbreaking. What a lovely family and perfect neighbours.

“Matthew was devoted to his children. He was a wonderful father and a good man.

“Bonnie was always full of fun and a very confident young woman.”

Two lifeboats had launched a rescue attempt for Mr Smith and Ms Smith in strong winds, with swells of up to five metres, and waves crashing over the harbour wall.

Joanna Cockings, who runs the Porthmellin Tea Room at the cove with her family, said the two sons had knocked on her door to raise the alarm.

She praised the heroic lifeboat crews who battled in vain to try and pluck the dad and daughter from the sea.

Ms Smith worked in the same company as her father.

An inquest into the double tragedy has opened in the UK.

“They were just absolutely incredible; amazing, professional calm,” Ms Cockings said.

“The heroism from them – it blows me away, really.

“Some were roped up and went down the harbour wall, just with torches, to locate them.

“It was in horrendous conditions; some of the waves were metres high. They are just so brave.”

Residents have previously warned visitors about storms at Mullion Cove as the harbour wall is low.

Fisherman Jonny Pascoe, who tried to help locate the casualties in the sea, said: “It’s really, really tragic.

“We know the dangers of the sea all too well and this is notorious. It doesn’t take much water to knock someone off their feet and into the water.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission