Student, 20, dies on holiday after falling three stories from Airbnb balcony

13 January 2023 , 18:03

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Leah Pearse was killed when she tried to climb to their holiday rental

A college student was killed when she fell three stories from the balcony of her Airbnb rental, hours after promising her dad she would ‘be careful’.

Leah Pearse, 20, from Massachusetts, US, was in Cancún, Mexico, with boyfriend Augustine Aufderheide, 21, when they got home from a day at the beach to find the keys were inside.

After briefly bickering with her partner, she attempted to climb up to their stay, when she fell from the great height.

Paramedics declared her dead at the scene, NBC10 Boston reported.

Her devastated father Reggie Pearse said of his daughter: “The last thing I said to her, I just said to her, 'be careful,' and she said, 'I'll try, Dad.'

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The college student was in Mexico with her boyfriend when tragedy struck

“As her parent, I won't get to enjoy the trajectory that she was on.

“I can only imagine what the future would have been."

Leah’s sister Anna praised her as “extremely unpredictable, extremely quirky, extremely funny”.

Pearse was working as a nursing assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital while studying for a Master's degree in nursing at Simmons College.

Boyfriend Augustine Aufderheide was held by authorities, but later released

An obituary shared by the family read: “After a great beach day, amazing dinner, and fantastic dancing, she attempted to enter her Airbnb through the third-floor balcony because the keys had been locked inside.

“Tragically she slipped, fell, and died instantly. She was an outstanding individual who encompassed the full range of human emotions with such a depth and compassion for others that her presence was bright and brilliant for all who knew her.

“So many people who have reached out to us have expressed that just a hug from Leah gave so much love and comfort. Leah needed an outlet for her love and desire to help others, so her greatest goal in life was to become the best nurse in the world.”

School president Lynn Perry Wooten said in a statement: “The Simmons University family is heartbroken at the loss of junior Leah Pearse, an active and beloved member of our community.

“Known for her confidence, compassion, and sense of humour, Leah brought out the best in others.

“Her lifelong goal was to become a nurse and she was an outstanding student in the accelerated five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science nursing degree program. “We extend our deepest thoughts and condolences to Leah's family, friends, and all those in our community impacted by this tragedy.

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“Counselling and support services are available for students and employees."

Cancún police arrested Aufderheide as part of the investigation after the accident but he was cleared of any wrongdoing after the police confirmed the incident was an accident and he was released from custody.

Antony Clements-Thrower