21-year-old Christchurch student dies while holidaying on French Riviera

A young Kiwi woman holidaying with her mother on the French Riviera has died from a cardiac arrest. 

The former St Margaret’s College pupil Bella Beirne, 21, died on July 14. She was in her fourth year studying law and psychology at the University of Canterbury. 

Her mother Hayley Middleton has paid tribute to Beirne as “a truly beautiful loved daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend”. 

“To have Bella as a friend, you had her for life. She loved hard and was fiercely loyal. She will remain this way for eternity as we have her very much with us,” Middleton told the Herald. 

Bella Beirne with her parents Simon Beirne and Hayley Middleton. Middleton said her daughter was a "friend for life". 

“A ridiculously huge amount of people are broken-hearted. She was so loved and so kind. And smart. Really, really smart.” 

Beirne was travelling with Middleton on a trip of a lifetime that took in a Harry Styles concert in London as well as travel in Lisbon, Portugal, Malaga, Grenada and time in Marbella, Barcelona, Nice and the French Riviera. 

It was a long-dreamed-of girls’ trip. “Cascais [in Portugal] was a day trip at the beach. Bels loved the sunshine; tanning was her sport; she was a gold medallist at it,” Middleton said. 

Bella’s father, Simon Beirne, and her brother Lachie flew to France while she was still in hospital. The bereaved family brought her body home together. 

Hayley Middleton with her daughter Bella Beirne, who died suddenly in France. 

The Beirne family is prominent in Christchurch business circles, with Simon the founder and managing director of vehicle import business SBL. 

Before her daughter’s death, Middleton posted on Instagram about how much Bella loved the illustrated book Belinda goes to Paris as a small child. 

“I lost count of how many times that book was chosen... dreaming of wandering the streets of Paris, visiting fountains and taking in the beautiful buildings, history and endless patisseries and sidewalk cafes. 

Bella Beirne's death has shocked her wide circle of friends and family. 

“At some point during the countless number of times that story was shared, we pinky promised that when this teeny tiny baby girl was 21 we’d go to Paris and sip champagne on the Champs-Élysées. And as you know, there’s not much more sacred than a pinky promise. 

“So 21-year-old Bels and I are off to sip champagne! How bloody lucky are we!” 

Beirne’s death has shocked her wide circle of friends, many of whom have taken to social media to express their grief and condolences to the family. 

“Beautiful Bella, an angel. Every thought has been with you all, sending you so much love and thoughts as you all make such a hard journey home,” wrote a friend. 

A social media post from Middleton posted on Wednesday thanked friends for their recent messages of love and support. 

“We will read and love every single one of them. You and your messages mean the world to us. Especially now,” Middleton wrote. 

Bella Beirne pictured with her father and brother, Simon and Lachie Beirne, and her mother, Hayley Middleton. 

“We are approximately an hour out of Nice. The sky is blue, the music is playing loud, and our tears continue to flow in disbelief as we bring our girl home. She is so deep rooted in our hearts, comforting us whenever she can. 

“And she’s still having fun. Her latest trick was convincing Lach’s he was locked in the bathroom on a plane. 

“She’s never far away, and I know she is very happy to have landed on the French Riviera. It’s every bit as beautiful as our girl. Well almost. 

Bella Beirne died while on a long-dreamed-of girls’ trip with her mother in Europe. 

“We feel all of your love and support. Please bear with us as we figure out what to do with it. We want the hugs and to share in your love and tears, yet we also want our solitude to grieve and feel our girl in our home and with space around us. 

“You are all important to us, and we feel your pain as you try and imagine what it must be like for us right now. I can confirm it is the most harrowing, sad thing in the world and I pray over everyone that we know that you never experience it.” 

Middleton said her daughter had held many hopes, dreams and plans. 

“It is completely not ok. You are so loved, BB, and we will hold you high and honour you forever. I love you, Dolly.” 

Carolyne Meng-Yee is an Auckland-based investigative journalist who won Best Documentary at the Voyager Media Awards. She worked for the Herald on Sunday from 2007-2011 and rejoined the Herald in 2016 after working as an award-winning current affairs producer at TVNZ’s 60 Minutes, 20/20 and Sunday.