The parents of a British university student who drowned in a swimming pool at a friend’s villa in France are urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into her death. Holly Woodcock, 20, from Erith in southeast London, was found submerged in the pool at around 1:30 a.m. on August 2, 2024, during a gathering at a holiday home in Saint Hilaire-la-Forêt, located in the Loire region.

Woodcock, who was studying English and multimedia journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University, had been attending a party with neighbours before the incident. Emergency services were alerted 14 minutes after her body was discovered. Despite resuscitation attempts, she was pronounced dead by 3:09 a.m. French authorities subsequently conducted an inquest that confirmed she died by drowning, although the exact cause of death remained undetermined. The inquest did not exclude the possibility of a traumatic cause.

The Woodcock family has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the investigation was handled, highlighting delays in notifying emergency services and interviewing witnesses. According to Joanna and Lee Woodcock, not all attendees were questioned, relevant electronic devices such as phones were not examined, and CCTV footage was not obtained. Additionally, essential evidence—including Woodcock’s swimming costume and DNA samples that might have clarified whether a medical condition contributed to her death—was reportedly destroyed.

Photographs taken shortly before 1 a.m. show Woodcock dancing in the villa’s kitchen. Plans were made for her and two friends to go for a swim, but five minutes after a Snapchat message asking for her whereabouts at 1:25 a.m., she was found in the pool.

French investigators have stated that, while drowning is the most likely cause of death, other factors have not been ruled out. The family disputes some official conclusions, noting details such as the discovery of her folded shorts by the poolside, which they argue contradicts the theory that alcohol impairment led to the drowning. Both parents have called on the authorities for a proper inquiry to rule out the possibility of foul play.

Efforts by the Woodcocks to have the case reopened by French officials have so far been unsuccessful. The UK Foreign Office has indicated limited capacity to intervene in judicial processes abroad but confirmed ongoing support for the family. Stephen Doughty, Minister for Europe, has reportedly spoken with the Woodcocks.

The case has also drawn political attention in the UK. Daniel Francis, Member of Parliament for Bexleyheath and Crayford, raised the matter in the House of Commons, urging the government to advocate for a renewed and more comprehensive investigation by French authorities.

In a letter to the British prime minister, Joanna and Lee Woodcock emphasized that they do not seek special treatment but simply want a full and transparent inquiry into their daughter’s death. Joanna Woodcock, who was diagnosed with cancer three months after Holly’s passing, appealed for justice and clarity amid lingering questions left by the initial investigation.