She became a seasoned scuba diver by age thirteen but did not get full certification until her sixteenth birthday due to French law.
By the time her husband put on scuba gear and dived down to bring her unconscious body to the surface it was too late and she was pronounced dead at a hospital on shore.
The attempt had been previously planned for a later date, and had too few safety divers, not enough proper rescue equipment, and no doctors at sea or shore.
A 2003 article, written by Gary Smith for Sports Illustrated, titled "Rapture of the Deep," chronicled the dramatic rise and ultimate tragedy of Mestre.
An ESPN documentary film written and directed by Alison Ellwood in 2013 included video footage of the incident and interviews with crew members and staff.