Funeral Held For Mom Swept Away in Costa Rica

Surfers save her son, but were unable to save her.

Funeral services will be held for a 33-year-old Healdsburg woman who died after being swept out to sea while swimming with her son in Costa Rica.

Rhiannon Hull will be remembered Sunday at Studio Barndiva in Healdsburg.

She and her son Julian had moved to Costa Rica recently so she could start a school there.

Her husband Norman, and 8-year-old son were scheduled to join the pair later this month.

According to the Press Democrat, Rhiannon and Julian were swimming off the coast, when a surfer spotted her struggling to keep her son's head above water. The surfer was able to save Julian, but after several dives in the murky water, was unable to find Rhiannon.

Hull family friend Scott Keneally  told the Democrat, Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} “The surfer grabbed her son and by the time he turned back around she was gone,” adding, “She had exhausted all her energy waiting for help and saving her son.”

Officials launched a search party to find Hull, but after sending out boats and helicopters, she was not able to be located, until Sunday when her body was recovered about two miles from shore.

Hull's husband and other son flew in to attend a memorial, which included about 100 people.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the "Julian and Gianni Hull Waldorf Education Fund" through Wells Fargo. More information will be available at the memorial, or email jenn@yogaoncenter.com

Contact Us