A 13-year-old boy who drowned while 'lake jumping' with friends had told them shortly before his death that he could not swim. Hayden Jones-Powell died at Meynell Lake, in Fosse Way, Syston, on June 25.
The schoolboy was among a group of 15 children who went to the lake after Wreake Valley Academy had closed due to the hot weather, the inquest heard. The inquest was concluded in writing on Friday, September 25, by Isobel Thistlethwaite, HM Assistant Coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire.
Timeline of the incident
Hayden mentioned to his friends that he was unable to swim before he went into the water, LeicestershireLive reports. He 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 at the time that 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.
Inquest and tributes
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.
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."
Hayden also had an amazing sense of humour and was extremely quick-witted. "We don't know how we will cope without him," they added. 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, previously told LeicestershireLive he was "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." She added: "It's horrific, absolutely horrific. It's the thing that happens to other people, doesn't it? It doesn't happen to your family."
Community grief
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. They said 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."
