A two-year-old boy died after falling into a flooded river while on a walk with two of his aunts, an inquest has heard. Xielo Maruziva fell into the River Soar at about 5pm on February 18 2024 in the Aylestone Meadows nature reserve, close to Marsden Lane, in Leicester.
The toddler, who had started nursery only weeks before, was walking along Packhorse Bridge a few steps ahead of his aunts before he “disappeared from view” and went into the water, the inquest heard. Search efforts were made but Xielo’s body was found nearly four months later, on June 6.
A jury inquest at Leicester Coroner’s Court was told by senior coroner Professor Catherine Mason that the water level was “very high” and the river was fast flowing due to flooding from heavy rain. Nicole Maruziva, one of Xielo’s aunts, tearfully told the inquest: “I saw Xielo on the side and he took what looked like a step but once he took that step he wasn’t there anymore.” She added that she jumped in to try to find him but could not feel anything in the water.
The court was told the area is a designated flood plain but does not have signage warning walkers that the water level might be high. Xielo’s great aunt Memory Maruziva said the boy was walking “perfectly fine” and was “always” in their eyesight.
Xielo’s father Bradley Maruziva also jumped into the water to try to save the boy and became hypothermic. Forensic pathologist Dr Frances Hollingbury said her opinion is that Xielo died as a result of the effects of being immersed in water.
