Absi Ahmed Mohammad, 17, from Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, died after suffering cold water shock while swimming with friends at High Dam near Windermere on April 7, Cumbria Coroner's Court heard.
Senior coroner Kirsty Gomersal said the pain and loss felt by Absi's family was 'unimaginable,' while noting it had been a 'tragic year for water safety.' Concluding his death was a result of misadventure, she urged people to listen to experts on the dangers of swimming outdoors.
Circumstances of the incident
Absi was with three friends, all 17, when they drove to High Dam at Finsthwaite on a 'glorious' spring day. A family representative told the inquest the four 'very sensible' boys had planned their expedition and were 'super excited' to go for a walk, with the swim as a 'reward' at the end.
After a two-hour ramble, around midday they entered the tarn on its western shore and aimed to reach an island 490ft (150m) away. One boy quickly turned back because he felt dizzy, sick and cold, the inquest heard. Another got to the island and a third was nearly there when they heard Absi shouting 'help'.
Cold water shock and rescue efforts
The inquest heard he was not a strong swimmer, was about halfway to the island and was 'splashing and panicking'. The boy who was still in the water went to help but had to stop as Absi was grabbing at him and dragging him below the surface. Absi likely suffered 'cold induced swim failure.'
The coastguard, mountain rescue volunteers, police, firefighters and paramedics went to the scene with the support of a local farmer. Absi's body was recovered and he was declared dead shortly before 9pm.
Det Ch Insp Laura Nield, who led the Cumbria Police investigation, said it was a 'tragic accident' caused by 'cold water shock' and 'drowning'. She said there was nothing more his friends could have done and there could have been more deaths if they had stayed in the water. Though it was a warm day of about 21C, the water temperature was at most 11C.
Safety measures and family response
Julie Wood, for the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) which manages High Dam, said the authority installed signage and life-saving equipment at 'key locations' where people could access the water. There was a sign at High Dam car park offering advice on 'being safe and checking for dangers including cold water and knowing limits', the inquest heard. But added it was 'impossible' to put them 'everywhere'. The tarn had one emergency throw-line at its southern end, which would have been about a five minute walk for the boys to get to.
LDNPA ranger Steven Tatlock said he had known the tarn for more than 30 years and there had always been a throw-line at the place most visitors reached first and usually swam from. A safety review will be held, which will include Absi's family, and the installation of a second throw-line at the opposite side of the tarn would be considered, Mr Tatlock said. He added: 'Beautiful as they are, mountains and water do hold risks and knowledge is the best way of managing those risks.'
The inquest heard him described as a 'lovely and kind young man' with the 'biggest smile'. Speaking after the tragedy, Absi's brother Adil, 22, said: 'My family doesn't want another parent or family member to lose someone like this. We want to make sure that if someone gets into difficulty in the future – like Absi did – people there have more chance of saving them. His friend tried to save him but couldn't. We want to do all we can to avoid people going through what we are.'
Absi's father Basir and mother Sammi said that they understood their son may have suffered cold water shock. That is caused by sudden immersion in cold water, which can make it difficult to swim, as heart rate and blood pressure increases and arms and legs cool as the body tries to keep warm.
