A 13-year-old boy who drowned in a lake during a UK heatwave had told friends he could not swim before he went into the water, an inquest has heard. Hayden Jones-Powell died at Meynell Lake, in Fosse Way, Syston in Leicestershire, on June 25.
The schoolboy was part of a group of 15 children who went to the lake after Wreake Valley Academy had closed due to the hot weather. The inquest, concluded in writing on Friday, September 25, by HM Assistant Coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire Isobel Thistlethwaite, heard that Hayden had mentioned to his friends that he was unable to swim before entering the water.
Search and recovery
Hayden was last seen at around 12.45pm. His friends raised the alarm, and teachers from the school went to the lake to try to find him. Police said officers were called just after 1.30pm. Specialist dive teams, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service then searched the lake.
Hayden was found in the water at 8.15pm that evening, more than seven hours after he was last seen. A post-mortem examination confirmed he had drowned. Leicestershire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and nobody else was involved in his death. Miss Thistlethwaite recorded a conclusion of accident.
Family tributes
Hayden's parents, Ben Jones-Powell and Emily Ambler, paid tribute to their son after his death. They said he had a passion for football and a love of animals. "We want him to be remembered by his big smile," they said. "The world isn't the same without him. His love of animals, his passion towards football and being outside."
They added: "Hayden also had an amazing sense of humour and was extremely quick-witted. We don't know how we will cope without him."
Hayden was a keen West Bromwich Albion supporter with a wide circle of friends. He leaves behind two older brothers and a sister. His aunt, Charlotte Powell, described him as "just a really lovely little cheeky boy." She said: "He wanted to cool off from the heat and enjoy the cool water, getting some respite from the heatwave after school."
Community outpouring
His death prompted an outpouring of grief across Syston, with hundreds gathering in the town's Central Park to release balloons in his memory just two days after the tragedy. Many wore T-shirts printed with his photo. Flowers, cards and balloons were also left along a nearby fence in tribute.
Charlotte said the tributes showed how much he meant to people. "Not one child doesn't know Hayden. They all loved him," she said. "You've only got to look up the fence to see the tributes they've paid to see what an impact that boy had in 13 years. It's incredible."
His friends also shared a memory of his sense of humour, saying he would ask his school's deputy head teacher what was in his sandwiches every single day, without fail. "He always had a quick wit for something," Charlotte said. "He was so loved, so loved, and that is evidently here today."
Wreake Valley Academy said it was devastated by the loss of one of its students. A spokesperson said: "This tragic accident has deeply affected everyone at our school and we are providing support to students, staff, and families who need it."
