The parents of Holly Woodcock, a 20-year-old university student who drowned in a swimming pool at a friend's French villa in August 2024, are appealing to the British government for assistance in reopening the case.
Holly Woodcock, from Erith in South London, was found at the bottom of the pool at the property in St Hilaire-la-Foret on the French West Coast approximately five days into her holiday. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on August 2, following a party with neighbors. Despite resuscitation attempts, she was pronounced dead by 3:09 a.m.
French authorities ruled the cause of death as drowning but did not determine the exact circumstances, with a traumatic cause of death not being excluded. However, the investigation was closed by police after just over a week, a decision that the Woodcock family contests due to unanswered questions and what they describe as mismatched witness accounts.
The family's legal representatives have raised concerns about the thoroughness of the original investigation, pointing to key evidence that was allegedly destroyed, including DNA samples and Holly's swimming costume. They also noted that phones were not checked and CCTV footage was never obtained. Furthermore, witnesses were reportedly not interviewed until the day after the incident, and some key individuals were never spoken to by police.
Holly's parents, Lee and Joanna Woodcock, have expressed frustration with the lack of progress and the French police's handling of the case. They have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to exert pressure on French counterparts to reopen the investigation. Holly's mother, Joanna, stated that they are not seeking special treatment but a thorough investigation akin to what they believe would occur if the victim were British.
"If this were your daughter, you would not have been dealt with this way, where the case would have been dropped after just a few days," Mrs. Woodcock told the Daily Mail. She questioned the French police's conclusion that alcohol was a factor, noting that Holly's shorts were found neatly folded by the pool, which she argued is inconsistent with severe intoxication.
Mr. Woodcock added, "I feel like standing outside the French Embassy with a placard saying, 'If you want to murder anyone, take them to France, give them a couple of beers, and you'll get away with it. They won't care.'" While the parents wish to believe no foul play was involved, they emphasize the need for further investigation to confirm this.
Questions persist regarding the 14-minute delay in calling emergency services after Holly was found. The family also highlights discrepancies in witness statements and an unexplained period during which Holly was alone before she was discovered in the water. A coroner's report noted an unaccounted-for nosebleed and bruises on her arm, possibly sustained while being removed from the pool.
Upon receiving Holly's body, her parents, in a state of grief and shock, cremated her, a decision they now regret, believing authorities had all necessary information for further inquiry.
Daniel Francis, the family's Member of Parliament, has supported the Woodcocks since August 2024 and has raised the case in the House of Commons. He echoed the family's concerns about the investigation's shortcomings, including the destruction of evidence and timeline inconsistencies, stating that the family deserves answers.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has informed the family that they are unable to intervene directly in another country's judicial processes. The family remains hopeful that diplomatic channels can facilitate a renewed inquiry.
Holly Woodcock was a student of English and Multimedia Journalism at Manchester Metropolitan University. She had spent the day of August 1 at the beach before returning to the villa for a dinner party. Images show her dancing in the kitchen shortly before 1 a.m., after which plans were made to go swimming. A Snapchat message from a friend asking about her whereabouts was sent at 1:25 a.m., and she was found in the pool five minutes later.