Fatal Accident Inquiry Examines Tragic Drowning of Non-Swimmer Boy at River Event
A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) has heard distressing evidence that a 12-year-old boy, who could not swim, was given approval to participate in a river boarding activity that ultimately led to his drowning death. Kayden Walker from Bridgeton, Glasgow, tragically passed away on July 29, 2019, after attending a day out with the Church House Community Group on the River Tay near Stanley in Perth and Kinross.
Details of the Fatal Incident and Court Proceedings
On July 28, 2019, Kayden was river boarding with the group when he became separated from his board and trapped on the upstream side of a weir. He was rescued from the water and initially taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee before being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where he died the following day. The inquiry, held at Falkirk Sheriff Court, is scrutinising the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking loss.
Angela Molloy, 55, who served as a project manager for Church House at the time, provided testimony. She explained that despite Kayden's inability to swim, organisers assessed him as confident in the water, allowing him to join the event led by Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Ltd. Under questioning from lawyers overseen by Sheriff Keith O’Mahony, Mrs Molloy stated, "You didn’t have to be able to swim to do the activity" and noted that initial meetings only required participants to be "comfortable in the water."
Safety Protocols and Organisational Responses
The court learned that Kayden had previously engaged in other water-based activities with Church House, including white water rafting and wakeboarding. Mrs Molloy emphasised that the group relies on external suppliers for safety, saying, "My job was youth worker and project manager, not an outdoor activity instructor. That’s why we rely on them to provide this service." She added that Church House has since enhanced its risk assessments but continues to permit non-swimmers at watersports events if suppliers deem it appropriate.
Alarmingly, Mrs Molloy admitted she did not notice warning signs in the area stating "Deep water, strong currents, no swimming" while driving the group to the river. In a related development, Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Ltd pleaded guilty to a health and safety breach in 2024 at Perth Sheriff Court and was fined £10,000 for Kayden's death.
Broader Context of the Fatal Accident Inquiry
The FAI is also investigating the death of Ruaridh Stevenson, 39, from Cupar, Fife, who drowned on April 13, 2024, while attempting to assist a client in difficulty at Dollar Glen, Clackmannanshire. The inquiry is expected to hear further evidence over at least ten days, covering both incidents to assess safety failures and prevent future tragedies.
This case highlights critical issues in youth activity supervision and the reliance on third-party providers for safety assurances, raising urgent questions about accountability and risk management in community-led excursions.
