A teenager who could not swim tried to save his friend after he got into difficulty in a river, but both lost their lives, an inquest has heard. David Ionut Radut, 14, and Aras Rudzianskas, 13, had been swinging on a rope swing near the River Tyne in Ovingham, Northumberland, on May 18, 2024.
Events Leading to the Tragedy
The inquest at Northumberland Coroner's Court heard that David, who could not swim, let go of the swing too early and landed in a deeper part of the river. He shouted for help, and Aras ran into the water to try to save him. David pushed Aras under the water in his panic, and both struggled. Another child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, tried to help David by grabbing his arms but had to let go as they felt themselves getting into difficulty and swam back to the river bank. Assistant Coroner Paul Dunn said something grabbed their leg, and they were unsure if it was the current or David.
Rescue Attempt and Discovery
David went under the water and was not seen again, while Aras, face down with his arms spread, was taken by the current. Fiona Matthews, who was paddleboarding in the river, found Aras face down. She initially thought it was a pale rock but discovered it was Aras' back. She turned him over, pulled him onto her paddleboard, and began chest compressions. She said: "I pulled him under the arms and used his shorts to try and get him out of the water. I think the adrenaline kicked in." She continued compressions while paddling towards the bank, having lost her paddle, and managed to get Aras closer. Paramedics took over in the water.
Medical Response and Aftermath
Paramedics managed to restart Aras' heart, but he could not breathe on his own. He was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, where he died three days later. Police marine units searched for David, and his body was found on the riverbed at 6:30pm that evening. He was taken by ambulance to the RVI.
Detective Sergeant Danielle Grant of Northumbria Police requested that the tree branch with the swing be cut down the next morning, but she told the court: "I was informed an unknown person has gone down and cut down the entire tree."
Witness Accounts and Family Concerns
The court heard that David and Aras, both from Newcastle, were part of a group of about 20 children who traveled to Ovingham. They had been at the river less than half an hour when the incident occurred. They were the first to use the swing. DS Grant said: "Nobody else had got around to having a try because it happened so quickly." Some children flagged down a bus for help, and police received three calls in quick succession. Ben Corlett, who was in the area, told the inquest: "There was a lot of panic, a lot of hysteria, crying and shouting."
David's family asked why they were not notified until 6:50pm. PC Grant said police initially did not know which male was which as descriptions were similar and they had no belongings.
Previous Incident
Coroner Dunn noted he had dealt with the inquest of Robert Hattersley, 13, who drowned in the same stretch of river in 2022. He said: "I remember sitting with his family and very much hoping I wouldn't have to have another family, families, in front of me again and here are unfortunately with a similar set of circumstances." The inquest continues.
