Nursing Student Dies While in Vacation in Mexico

Leah Pearse, 20, is being remembered as a bright young woman with a long future ahead of her. The Massachusetts native recently went on vacation in Cancun but she ran into trouble with her Airbnb. Authorities say she was returning from the beach when she realized she accidentally locked the keys inside her apartment. Pearse then tried to scale the balcony on the third floor, but she never made it into her room.

“Tragically she slipped, fell, and died instantly,” her obituary said. Pearse was in the middle of pursuing a Master’s degree in nursing at Simmons University and worked as a certified nursing assistant at Mass General Hospital. “Leah needed an outlet for her love and desire to help others, so her greatest goal in life was to become the best nurse in the world,” the obit continues.

Lynn Perry Wooten, president of Simmons University, said she was heartbroken to hear that Pearse had died. “Known for her confidence, compassion, and sense of humor, Leah brought out the best in others. Her lifelong goal was to become a nurse and she was an outstanding student in the accelerated five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science nursing degree program,” Wooten said.

“We extend our deepest thoughts and condolences to Leah’s family, friends, and all those in our community impacted by this tragedy. Counseling and support services are available for students and employees,” she added.

Her obit describes her as a hard-working, joyful person who loved taking care of others.

“Leah was having a phenomenal time in college, making connections with everybody she met,” it states. “If you knew Leah, you know she put everything on the table right off the bat. People felt they knew her after just the first interaction, and often they loved her immediately for the ease her presence brought to every room she entered.”