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The death of a British university student who accidentally drowned in a swimming pool in the US remains a mystery after a coroner described the incident as ‘inexplicable’.
Jack Chisholm, 21, was found unresponsive at the home of a friend in Bokeelia, Florida, where he had been staying for a month while he was working at a tortoise sanctuary during the university holidays.
Jack, who was described as a ‘very happy chap’ and a strong swimmer, was a student at Newcastle University and lived with his family in Burford, Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter heard that an investigation by US detectives concluded Jack had drowned but that there was no third party involvement.
Mr Salter said: ‘There was uncertainty as to how and why Jack entered the water. It is to an extent inexplicable how he ended up in the water and how he could not get himself out.’
![Jack Chisholm (pictured), 21, was found unresponsive at the home of a friend in Bokeelia, Florida](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/16/79037317-12871641-image-a-5_1702743885232.jpg)
Jack Chisholm (pictured), 21, was found unresponsive at the home of a friend in Bokeelia, Florida
Jack’s body was flown home for a funeral following the tragedy which happened on June 9.
The inquest was told how Jack was staying with a family friend for a month-long work experience placement at a tortoise sanctuary.
Mr Salter read a narrative conclusion to the Chisholm’s family, due to the mysterious nature regarding the manner of Jack’s death.
He said: ‘Jack Chisholm was a student at Newcastle University and was visiting Florida for few weeks at a tortoise sanctuary.
‘On the afternoon of June 9 he was alone at the swimming pool and had a siesta and swim after lunch.
‘Jack was last seen at approximately 1:30pm but was discovered at 6pm submerged in the pool. It is not known how he entered the water or what caused the difficulty as he was a good swimmer – but there was no third-party involvement.’
A post-mortem examination carried out on Jack’s body found a haemorrhage to the left trapezius muscle and some abrasion on his left eye. However, these were deemed to be minor injuries.
The local US Sheriff’s department concluded the incident as a drowning in the manner of an accident.
![At the Oxford inquest into Jack's (pictured) death, the coroner branded the incident as 'inexplicable'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/16/16/79037315-12871641-image-a-6_1702743892584.jpg)
At the Oxford inquest into Jack’s (pictured) death, the coroner branded the incident as ‘inexplicable’
The inquest in Oxford heard that Jack’s body was found in the pool by Stephanie Derby who shouted to her sister Brooke Derby for help as she carried out CPR to try to revive the 21-year-old.
Martin and Tania Chisholm, Jack’s parents, spoke glowingly of their son in a written statement read by Mr Salter.
They said: ‘Jack was going to go out to Florida for month for a nice experience. He was a very happy chap with a young and happy life.
‘We believe in our hearts that it is a tragic accident.’