Sand artist died sea swimming

AN experienced sea swimmer and renowned sand artist died after going for an early morning swim off Cornwall’s north coast.

Marc Treanor, 57, died on July 2 last year after a dip at Trebarwith Strand near Tintagel.

The father of two, originally from Cornwall but who was living in Wales at the time of his death, was notable for creating intricate patterns on beaches in Cornwall and later in Pembrokeshire.

An inquest heard how Marc was, on the whole, healthy but had complained about intermittent chest pains to his partner of seven years, Rachel Shiamh.

Speaking shortly after the incident, Rachel said: “We went for a swim together a few days before he died and he mentioned the pains then. He even joked that perhaps he would have a heart attack and drown.”

The cause of death was given as drowning with a secondary cause of coronary artery disease, although acting senior coroner for Cornwall Andrew Cox heard that the court could only speculate as to what role the disease played in his death. He recorded a conclusion of accident death.