Parents discuss loss of daughter while studying abroad

MARIETTA, Ga. — The parents of a Cobb County teenager who died on an exchange trip overseas spoke out Tuesday night for the first time.

Channel 2's Liz Artz spoke to the parents of 17-year-old Morgan Lide, a Wheeler High School student who drowned while vacationing with her host family in Bali over the weekend.

Chuck and Lori Lide spoke to Artz about the remarkable life of their youngest daughter.

"Very humble and never said an unkind thing about anyone," Chuck Lide said.

Grief counselors were on hand at Wheeler, where Morgan was a junior, to offer support to Morgan's many friends there.

Morgan's parents said she had a long list of academic accolades, but better than all of that was her heart.

"It was just amazing for her age, to see what she was accomplishing and how many people she touched," Lori Lide said.

Morgan left in September to spend a year in Indonesia as a foreign exchange student. On Friday, while swimming off the coast in Bali with her host family, she apparently got caught in a riptide and drowned.

Chuck Lide said Morgan was a strong swimmer, and even took a class on the danger of riptides.

Morgan was supposed to stay in Indonesia until June. She planned to work with orphan children over the holidays.

Morgan's father said he is thankful for the daughter he had.

Morgan's body will be brought back to Georgia next week and her funeral will be held on Dec. 12.

WSBTV