A British schoolgirl who died in a boat explosion on a family holiday to the Caribbean suffered burns on 60 per cent of her body, an inquest heard. 

Abigail Lainton, from Swindon, passed away on July 30 – three days after the fatal boat trip off the coast of the Dominican Republic. 

The ‘much-loved’ cheerleading coach was returning from a catamaran trip to the popular Saona Island when the 35-person vessel became engulfed in flames and black smoke. 

Part of the boat’s deck broke apart in the blast, and Abigail was rushed to hospital after suffering burns to 60 per cent of her body.

She sadly passed away three days later after her condition deteriorated.  

An inquest in Salisbury this week heard that Abigail died from septic shock caused by septicaemia, resulting from pulmonary oedema due to first and second degree burns.

Her body has since been repatriated to Wiltshire. 

Following the schoolgirl’s passing, Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club – where Abigail was a coach – took to Facebook to pay tribute.

Abigail Lainton died aged 16 last month after a fatal boat explosion off the coast of the Dominican Republic

The teenager (pictured far right) died from septic shock caused by septicaemia, resulting from pulmonary oedema due to first and second degree burns, an inquest in Salisbury heard this week

The tourist boat was returning from the Saona Island when a ‘pop’ was heard before it accelerated and then burst into flames

A post read: ‘There are simply no words that feel enough. Abbie was a much-loved member of our Swindon Lightning family.

‘Her kindness, infectious smile, unwavering encouragement and love for cheerleading touched the lives of so many athletes, coaches and families over the years. She brought so much light to our gym, and her loss has left us all heartbroken.’

Two of Abigail’s siblings, Carley and Bradley, were among more than 20 tourists ‘badly injured’ in the explosion.  

Speaking in July, witnesses told how the boat ‘didn’t feel safe’, ‘smelled like gasoline’ and ‘was overpacked’ from the moment it set sail. 

Passengers reportedly raised such concerns to staff, but were assured it was safe. 

Gisell Segovia, 22, and her husband Navin Torres, 35, had been on holiday to celebrate Mr Torres’s birthday when they boarded the boat.

Ms Segovia told The Sun: ‘We told the captain it smelled like gasoline and he was like, “Oh, no, no, it’s fine”.

‘And it was a lot of people. I feel like they overpacked us.’

She said it ‘didn’t feel safe’ to have so many tourists on such a small vessel, adding: ‘It could last a five-minute ride, but I think it was around 30 minutes.’ 

‘A lot of people didn’t have their life jackets buckled on right’.

Mr Torres described how the passengers heard a terrifying ‘pop’ after the boat suddenly sped up to ‘keep up with the other boats’, then the vessel suddenly exploded.

He said: ‘The front of the boat exploded. It took me a couple of seconds to analyse what was going on [when] the fire started spreading towards me and my wife.’

Ms Segovia described people being thrown from their seats with broken pieces of the boat ‘flying everywhere’.

Abigail, from Swindon, was described as a much-loved member of her community and an ‘exceptional dancer’

She said she remembered Abbie because of her ‘beautiful eyes’.

The teenager was a former pupil at Tanwood School for Performing Arts, a musical theatre group, and had been enjoying the summer with friends after taking her GCSEs. 

The school said: ‘Abbie joined Tanwood as a dinky dot and was part of an exceptional group of dancers who formed strong friendships which spilled over to the audience when they performed together.

‘She always performed with a huge smile, and those beautiful feet! Abbie took her dance training and joined Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club where she once again excelled and competed all over the world.

‘Abbie’s family have been part of the Tanwood family for years, and have always offered unwavering support.

‘We are all in complete shock at this heartbreaking news and send so much love and support to her family and friends at this unimaginable time. You will always be in our hearts.’ 

Neighbours of Abbie’s family in Swindon said they have lived there for ‘quite some time’ and told of their shock at the news.

One told the Daily Mail: ‘I heard the two girls and the lad were on the boat, and must have been near where it exploded.

‘It’s terrible. The young girl’s not too bad, she’s got a broken leg and her brother’s got some burns but he’s not too bad now. They’re all back in the UK now. I’ve known them for a long time. It’s heartbreaking.’

Another neighbour said: ‘It’s unbelievable. We heard about it from a friend of a friend. It’s extremely, extremely upsetting. They’ve not been out the house much.

‘We were just aware that something wasn’t right. They’re a nice family, very nice family.’