Shropshire Star

Shropshire businessman drowns saving daughter from sea off Italy

A Shropshire businessman has drowned trying to save his 10-year-old daughter in the sea off Italy.

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Simon Pearson, inset, drown in the sea near Ostuni

Simon Pearson was killed after trying to reach his daughter when she got into difficulty.

Mr Pearson, 47, was the managing director of Jesmonite, a building materials firm based on Bishop's Castle's Love Lane Industrial estate.

He lived in the village of Old Church Stoke, near Churchstoke, on the Shropshire border.

Simon and Emma Pearson at the 2014 Shropshire Business Awards at Telford International Centre

A beach worker also died after rushing to the girl's aid at the Bosco Verde beach in Ostuni, in the Puglia region of southern Italy, but the little girl survived.

It is believed Martino Maggi, 49, managed to bring the girl back to dry land but died after going back into the water to rescue her father.

The father-of-two had been at the beach with his family but was taken by strong currents in the sea after trying to reach his daughter.

Mr Pearson's wife Emma Jane, 43, said her husband "did everything" he could to try and rescue her.

She said: "They were swimming in the shallows at the beach but the tide pulled them into deeper water.

Marina di Ostuni, near where the family was staying

"Simon held on to my daughter's hand to keep her afloat but he became unconscious. I have two young children who have lost their dad. We are all traumatised.

"My husband worked hard all his life to provide for his family and he has now given his life to save our daughter."

Mr Pearson and Mr Maggi were eventually brought to shore and resuscitation attempts were made but both were declared dead.

Simon Pearson

The coastguard rescued others who were in difficulty and said the conditions were caused by strong winds.

The family live in a beautiful, isolated valley near Churchstoke where neighbours said they would not comment on the tragedy.

A gardener said they were a lovely family.

"My heart goes out to Emma and the family," he said.

"They will have so much to deal with, how are they going to cope. They bought a little cottage here and extended it into a beautiful home for themselves."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Puglia. Our staff are in contact with Italian authorities."

High winds are common in the area where the tragedy took place. Reports said the wind speeds were between 10 and 15 knots when the tragedy unfolded.

On July 14, four lifeguards rescued three Russian tourists and an Italian who were unable to return to the shore on a nearby beach.

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