A coroner has issued a stark warning about water safety following the tragic drowning of a two-year-old girl in a slow-moving river on farmland in Devon. The incident, which occurred in June 2023, has highlighted the profound dangers that even shallow water can pose to unsupervised young children.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Eva-Rose Wainwright was found face down in the water on farmland in Lifton, Devon, on June 16, 2023. An inquest at Exeter Coroner's Court heard that the toddler had been accompanying her father, Charles Wainwright, a sheep farmer, as he moved cattle on the property.
Sequence of Events
According to evidence presented at the hearing, Mr Wainwright left Eva-Rose playing with a family dog beside a shallow river while he attended to livestock duties. He returned approximately 15 to 20 minutes later to discover his daughter unresponsive in the slow-moving water.
Despite immediate efforts by Mr Wainwright and subsequent attempts by attending paramedics to resuscitate her, Eva-Rose was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner confirmed that the cause of death was drowning.
Coroner's Findings and Warning
Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Devon, reached a conclusion of accidental death following the inquest at Devon County Hall. In her remarks, Ms Longhorn expressed deep sympathy for the family while emphasising the critical safety lesson from this tragedy.
'This case really demonstrates the dangers that even very shallow water can present to children when they are left unsupervised either in or near shallow water,' the coroner stated. She added, 'This is a truly tragic death of a little girl and I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must have been for her parents.'
Family Tribute
In a heartfelt tribute published after her death, Eva-Rose's family described her as 'adored daughter of Charlie and Kyra-Jo, a loving sister, granddaughter and niece.' The statement continued, 'She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.'
The coroner concluded by offering her condolences to the grieving family while reinforcing the importance of constant supervision around water, regardless of how calm or shallow it may appear.
