Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Amy Walker

'Beautiful' bride found dead by mother-in-law after collapsing in tanning salon

A "beautiful" new bride was discovered by her own mother-in-law after she died in a tanning salon.

Piata Tauwhare, 30, had booked in for an 11-minute tanning session at Lextan tanning studio in Swansea, South Wales, last Saturday.

She is believed to have collapsed shortly after entering the booth from suspected sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

She was found nearly two hours later by her mother-in-law Emma Collyer-Miles, 42.

The mental health support worker's husband Ifan Jones, 23, told the Sun : "Piata was the most wonderful, beautiful person in the world.

"She lit up my life and made me a better person."

The couple, who married in September, had spent the day together before Piata headed to the salon for a Saturday afternoon session.

Piata collapsed after entering an upstanding tanning booth (Facebook)

Failing to return home or answer Ifan's calls after her 1.45pm appointment, his mother visited the salon to see if Piata had left her phone behind.

A staff member told Emma that Piata had a session in one of the booths but it was now empty.

But as she made to leave, a worker realised Piata had been using a different booth and the door was locked.

Eventually forcing the door open, she found her daughter-in-law collapsed on the ground in the stand-up booth with no sign of life.

"As soon as I opened that door I knew she'd gone," Emma told the Sun.

Lextan tanning salon in Fforestfach Swansea (MEDIA WALES)

"It'll stay with me forever. She was a quiet, gentle soul who would listen and be kind to anyone.

"She was an angel to us all and our world is a different place now that she's gone."

After finding Piata, Emma rang her son Ifan who dialled 999 and her former soldier husband Martin.

Martin rushed to the scene and attempted CPR before paramedics arrived. Despite an hour-long battle to save her, Piata was pronounced dead at 5.40pm.

"They were just perfect for each other," said Martin of his stepson and Piata.

"They'd rented a house with one another and were just getting started as a couple.

"It's heartbreaking for all of us that she's gone, especially in this way."

The couple met around two years ago after Piata moved to Bristol from her native New Zealand.

The family are raising money for her body to be flown home so she can be given a traditional Māori funeral.

Detective Inspector Gareth Jones of South Wales Police said: "South Wales Police was called around 4.05pm on Saturday, May 28, by the Welsh Ambulance Service following reports the body of a woman had been found at commercial premises on Carmarthen Road, Fforestfach.

"Emergency services attended and found the body of a woman in her 30s.

"There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. Her next of kin have been informed and a file has been passed to the coroner."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.