Charlotte Furness-Smith, the 30-year-old woman who died after becoming trapped in a sea cave, was an adventure-loving "poster-girl" for the Navy, it has been revealed.
Miss Furness-Smith, affectionately known as "Buffy" by friends and family, died in the Tilly Whim Caves off the Dorset coast on Saturday afternoon.
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According to the Evening Standard, the extreme sports fanatic was “coasteering” with her older brother Alex when she was washed into the beauty spot.
Charlotte Furness-Smith was known as 'Buffy' to friends and family
The paper revealed rescuers spent two hours talking to her through a blowhole, but were unable to reach her in time. They could not recover her body because of severe weather.
Swanage Coastguard said at the time: "Entry to the cave was either underwater, or though a narrow blowhole at the top of the cave.
"The rescue was considered to be at the very edge of our technical capability.
"On entering the cave it became apparent that the casualty had sadly succumbed.
She was described as a 'poster-girl' for the Navy
"The difficult decision was taken that the recovery of the body at that point was too dangerous to undertake.
Miss Furness-Smith reportedly joined the Royal Navy Reserves at Exeter University, where she graduated in engineering before going on to qualify as a maths teacher.
Miss Furness-Smith's grandfather, Trinidad lawyer Gerald Furness-Smith, told the Evening Standard that Buffy was a "beautiful girl who was always smiling".
He said she was a devoted granddaughter and a fitting “poster girl” for the Navy.
“She adored the outdoor life and with Alex, those dare-devil activities which regrettably went so wrong last weekend, but her reason for coming to Trinidad was to see and be with her grandparents who are in their nineties.
"It was wonderful to see the affection, time and care that she willingly and happily lavished on them.”