Danielle Marceline: Teen drowns in sea day before 18th birthday while having 'best weekend' with mom
COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA: A teenager from New York died only a day before she would have turned 18 while traveling to south Florida on vacation for a supposed fun trip with her mother and a friend. Danielle Marceline drowned while swimming in the Ocean on Saturday, December 3 over the weekend, according to the Lansingburgh Central School District, which she previously attended.
The 17-year-old was in Cocoa Beach when she was swept away by the current, the Cocoa Beach Police Department said in a statement on Sunday. The school district said in a statement on Monday that her companion Mary Doyle was rescued by the lifeguards. According to the police, Danielle was dragged further out by the strong current and lifeguards were unable to save her. The body was discovered on the beach sand on Sunday, the day which would have been her 18th birthday reports said.
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Danielle and her family grew up next door to Regina Hunter and her daughter Zoe. The Hunters set up a GoFundMe page on behalf of Christine Marceline, Danielle's mom to aid with Marceline's memorial expenses. Christine regarded her kid as kind but a bit reserved. Regina recalls her in the same manner. “She was a quiet girl and a very sweet girl. Once you got to know her, you got to see how goofy she was. The last thing they’re thinking about is what they’re going to need coming up, and I kind of wanted to take that off of their chest,” Regina said. “The community’s response has been unbelievable.”
"This was supposed to be an amazing mother-daughter weekend. It was something she always wanted," Christine told The Times Union. "It was supposed to be the best weekend of her life and it took her life away."
Danielle had a big heart, according to her mother Christine, who wants to thank members of the community for their support, NEWS 10 reported. Danielle was a volleyball player, and a dancer, and wanted to study interior design in college. Before transferring to Catholic Central, she was a student in the Lansingburgh district. In a statement, Lansingburgh Superintendent Dr Antonio Abitabile said in part, “in speaking to some of her teachers, she was an absolute pleasure to have in class, bringing smiles to those around her.”
Lansingburgh and Catholic Central both they said are providing counseling and support services to students who have lost a classmate unexpectedly, “In the coming days we’re going to be watching our student body very closely to see what their needs are, see what we can do to help them, and to have the supports necessary as needed,” said Ritch Herrigan, interim high school administrator for Catholic Central School.
“Undoubtedly, this is a tragedy that impacts every member of the school community and we join the family in mourning,” said Dr. Giovanni Virgiglio, Superintendent of Schools for the Albany Diocese. “We ask that all join us in enfolding Dani’s family and friends in prayer during this difficult time.” There are no details yet on funeral services. Christine said, for now, everyone can honor Danielle’s memory by being kind to one another, and sticking up for the underdog, something she says her daughter always did. Cocoa Beach Police in Brevard County, Florida, report they are investigating the drowning.