An experienced sea swimmer and well-renowned sand artist died after going for an early morning swim off Cornwall’s north coast.

Marc Treanor, 57, died on July 2 last year after a dip at Trebarwith Strand near Tintagel.

Dad-of-two Marc, originally from Cornwall but who was living in Wales at the time of his death, was notable for creating intricate patterns on beaches in Cornwall and later in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

An inquest into Marc’s death heard how Marc was on the whole healthy, but had complained about intermittent chest pains to his partner of seven years, Rachel Shiamh.

Speaking shortly after the incident, Rachel said: "We went for a swim together a few days before he died and he mentioned the pains then. He even joked that perhaps he would have a heart attack and drown."

Rachel added that Marc had placed an online order for shoes for her birthday shortly before 8am. Forty minutes later, he was dead.

A cause of death was recorded as drowning with a secondary cause of coronary artery disease, although acting senior coroner for Cornwall Andrew Cox heard that the court could only speculate as to what role the disease played in his death.

A statement on behalf of investigating officer DC Page of Launceston CID was read in which he described there being no suspicious circumstances or evidence of third party involvement surrounding Mr Treanor’s death.

DC Page described how the police control room was contacted at 8:44am by a member of the public who’d found Mr Treanor’s body washed up on the shore in swimming trunks whilst walking his dog.

Mr Treanor, who was on a tour of the UK visiting friends and family, spent the day before his death with his mother and step father, informing them before he went to bed of his intentions for a morning swim.

Marc Treanor

Mr Treanor worked as a caretaker in exchange for accommodation and made money from his sand art which was commission by the National Trust and local schools.

The inquest heard that Mr Treanor was used to sea swimming, doing so regularly near his home in Pembrokeshire.


DC Page stated that Mr Treanor suffered “a possible medical episode during or after his swim” and had a small cut on his head consistent with contact with a rock.

Concluding the inquest, Mr Cox said: “Marc Treanor was found deceased on the beach at Trebarwith Strand on July 2 after going for a morning swim.

An image at Watergate Bay, Cornwall, created by artist Marc Treanor

“He had previously complained to others about an intermittent chest pain and it is possible a medical episode precipitated his drowning.

“It was an intentional act (going for a swim) with an unintended outcome.”

Mr Cox recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

Mr Treanor gained a large following and was famed for his enormous artworks drawn painstakingly into sands at beaches - only to then see them washed away by the tide.

His good friend, Paul Stradwick, said previously: "Marc was a lovely guy and an inspiration to many. He was a true artist who created his ethereal art just for the joy of it and as a gift to anyone who came across it on the beaches.

"We will miss him."