Dead polo star had not suffered ‘physical trauma’
A rising United States polo star had no injuries when she was found unresponsive in a spa pool, a preliminary report shows.
Lauren Mikaila Biddle, 22, had been in New Zealand 10 days before she died in the seaside suburb of Clifton, near Sumner, about 1am on October 22.
The Press revealed Biddle visited the five-bedroom home in Spinnaker Ln, owned by structural engineer Joe McGirr, to have a spa with some friends.
It is understood some of the group spent the evening drinking alcohol and consuming drugs. It is unclear whether Biddle took any drugs.
Biddle’s father, Tommy Biddle, told The Press last week a preliminary report showed his daughter suffered ‘‘no physical trauma’’ when one of her friends found her unresponsive in the spa. It is unclear when and where she died. By the time an ambulance arrived, a friend was trying to resuscitate her on nearby Clifton Tce.
‘‘There’s so many questions and really I think there’s going to be questions for a long time,’’ Tommy Biddle said.
‘‘The only thing I can say right now is, from what I understood, at least whatever happened was peaceful.’’
He had not heard of McGirr until after his daughter’s death and had not spoken to him.
‘‘I guess it would be nice if he messaged me to apologise for whatever happened but I don’t know.’’
Following his daughter’s death, he spoke to a number of her friends who said she was not into drugs.
Tommy Biddle said he kept in regular contact with police in New Zealand.
Police were yet to release his daughter’s belongings as part of their investigation.
Her body arrived back in the US about two weeks ago.
About 400 people attended a celebration of Lauren’s life, held in her hometown of Florida at the Wellington National Golf Club on the Sunday before last.
In memory of some of the things she loved, tacos and cupcakes with elephant and unicorn decorations on them were served.
‘‘Everybody had their tears and their moments but it was really a celebration,’’ Tommy Biddle said.
‘‘It was very overwhelming and very humbling to have that many people to come out and show their respects.
‘‘It showed how many people she touched and the respect that they have for your family, it was amazing.’’
McGirr, who is the director of JDM Consulting which specialises in structural engineering design, appeared in court on October 23 for a summons after breaching the conditions of a supervision order by consuming alcohol. It is unclear what the supervision order relates to.
A Corrections spokesman said McGirr was prosecuted for the breach.
Since then, McGirr appears to have deleted his Facebook page and taken down his company’s website.
McGirr is represented by three lawyers. In an email, one of his lawyers said he had no comment to make at this stage.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Cottam said earlier that police were still waiting for a toxicology report and the results of tests from samples taken from the property. Cottam confirmed McGirr was one of several people being spoken to as part of the investigation.
‘‘There are elements of this that cause some concern but it’s still being treated as a coronial inquiry at this stage.’’