A young boy heroically leaped into the River Thames in a desperate but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to save a nine-year-old schoolgirl from drowning, a coroner's inquest has revealed. The tragic incident occurred on May 30 last year in Gravesend, Kent, where Luiza Paun, affectionately known as Bia, fell into the water while playing on a jetty.
Desperate Rescue Efforts in the Thames
The unnamed child was joined by both Luiza's uncle and a member of the public, George Karnovski, 37, who all entered the river in a frantic bid to rescue the youngster. Mr Karnovski testified at the Maidstone inquest that Luiza was 'screaming' as she struggled against the strong currents. 'At the same time as pulling him out, I was looking around like, "Where is she, where is she?"' he said, as reported by KentOnline. 'I am shouting, saying, "There is one more, there is one more". I am looking around [but] for love nor money, I cannot see the little girl.'
Emergency Response and Tragic Outcome
Emergency services, including HM Coastguard, the RNLI, and police, swiftly descended on the scene to search for Luiza, with the mission extending into the following day. Despite their exhaustive efforts, her body was recovered from the water at approximately 11.35am the next day, and she was pronounced dead. Coroner Venessa Holt read evidence from a post-mortem report at Oakwood House, confirming the cause of death as drowning. Luiza's family did not attend the hearing.
CCTV footage captured the moment Luiza, from Gravesend, was playing with another child on Gravesend Promenade's Royal Terrace Pier before the accident. Mr Karnovski's sister, Samantha, told the inquest that they were on a family walk when they spotted the girl in distress. The boy she was playing with and Mr Karnovski both jumped into the water to try to save her.
Challenges Faced During the Rescue
Mr Karnovski took about two minutes to battle through the currents to reach the children, who were 20 metres away, while relatives called 999. By the time he arrived, he could only see the boy floating on his back, with no sign of Luiza. The RNLI arrived shortly after and rescued both Mr Karnovski and the boy from the water.
Coroner Holt explained to the court: 'On May 30 at 1.45pm, Luiza Paun fell into the river. The child she was with jumped in to try to help her as well as members of the public. The boy was rescued, and after an extensive search, Luiza Paun was found the next day in the water and pronounced dead.' She concluded the death as accidental and offered her sincere condolences to the family.
Community Mourning and Safety Concerns
In the days following the tragedy, floral tributes and soft toys were left at the site where Luiza is believed to have entered the water. Heartfelt messages included 'Rest in peace, little one' and 'May you find eternal peace in the arms of angels.' Luiza's family, believed to be from Romania, described her as a 'beautiful angel' who 'had her whole life ahead of her.'
The incident has sparked calls for enhanced safety measures along the riverbank to prevent similar accidents. Proposals include more signage, potentially in multiple languages, to warn visitors of the dangers of approaching the water's edge. This tragic event underscores the urgent need for improved public safety protocols in high-risk areas like the Thames.
