Mystery over ‘inexplicable’ death of ‘very happy chap’ student, 21, who accidentally drowned in a Florida swimming pool after travelling to the US to work at a tortoise sanctuary

The death of a British university student who accidentally drowned in a US swimming pool remains a mystery after a coroner described the incident as 'inexplicable'.

Jack Chisholm, 21, was found unconscious at a friend's house in Bokeelia, Florida, where he had been staying for a month while working at a turtle sanctuary during university holidays.

Jack, who was described as a 'very happy guy' and a strong swimmer, studied 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 there was no third party intervention.

Mr Salter said: 'There was uncertainty about how and why Jack went into the water. It is to some extent inexplicable how he got into the water and couldn't get out.”

Jack's body was flown home for a funeral following the tragedy that occurred on June 9.

The inquest was told how Jack stayed with a family friend for a month-long internship at a turtle sanctuary.

Mr Salter read a narrative conclusion to Chisholm's family, due to the mysterious nature of how Jack died.

He said: 'Jack Chisholm was a student at Newcastle University and was in Florida for a few weeks at a turtle sanctuary.

'On the afternoon of June 9, he was alone at the pool and took a siesta after lunch and went swimming.

'Jack was last seen around 1.30pm but was discovered submerged in the pool at 6pm. It is not known how he entered the water or what caused the problems as he was a good swimmer, but there was no third party intervention.”

A post-mortem examination of Jack's body revealed haemorrhage to the left trapezius muscle and some abrasion to his left eye. However, these were minor injuries.

The local U.S. Sheriff's Department concluded the incident as a drowning, similar to an accident.

At the Oxford inquest into Jack's death (pictured), the coroner labeled the incident 'inexplicable'

The inquest in Oxford heard that Jack's body was found in the swimming pool by Stephanie Derby, who called to her sister Brooke Derby for help as she performed CPR in an attempt to revive the 21-year-old.

Martin and Tania Chisholm, Jack's parents, spoke highly of their son in a written statement read out by Mr Salter.

They said, 'Jack was going to Florida for a month for a fun experience. He was a very happy guy with a young and happy life.

“We believe in our hearts that it is a tragic accident.”