Tragic Death of Teenager in Flooded Park After Distressing Phone Call
An 18-year-old student drowned in a flooded park after telling his girlfriend that a man had attempted to rape him, a coroner's court has heard. Fintan Jack Feltham vanished in the early hours of November 27, 2024, following a night out with friends in Oxford. His body was discovered near Grandpont Nature Park in Oxfordshire on December 3, with the cause of death confirmed as drowning.
Final Hours and Distressing Revelation
Fintan had travelled from his university accommodation in Reading to Oxford for army cadet training. After spending time at the cadet bar, he and friends visited the Swan and Castle pub at 11pm before moving to LGBTQ+ nightclub Plush around 12.15am. CCTV footage showed him being ejected from the club just before 2.30am due to intoxication, then staggering through the city streets.
During this period, he made multiple calls to his girlfriend, Molly. In their final conversation at 3.20am, Fintan revealed that a man had tried to rape him. "He said some guy tried to rape him. He said the guy was a b*****d. That is when he said he lost his glasses. He kept saying he was really cold and scared… I have never heard him be like that before," Molly told the inquest.
Police Investigation and Missed Opportunities
Detective Constable Enya Lyons stated that while an attack was "possible", officers found no evidence to substantiate the claim. Fintan was last captured on CCTV at Whitehouse Road at 3.31am before disappearing. Molly reported him as a welfare concern shortly before 4am, prompting a police search that later classified him as a high-risk missing person.
A Thames Valley Police review acknowledged that Fintan should have been recorded as missing sooner, though it concluded this would not have altered the tragic outcome. The force also admitted missing a sighting of his body on a drone camera. Additionally, a licensing review of Plush nightclub found staff "missed some opportunities" to identify Fintan's deterioration earlier in the evening.
Contributing Factors and Ongoing Scrutiny
Coroner Nicholas Graham highlighted several factors that contributed to Fintan's death, including his intoxicated state, lack of glasses, and unfamiliarity with the area. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating a request to review Thames Valley Police's handling of the reinvestigation into the case.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police said it conducted a "thorough investigation" and found nothing that impacted the initial response or the sad outcome. The force declined to comment on the ongoing complaint due to the active investigation.
Family Tribute and Legacy
Fintan's father described him as an "intelligent" and "well-loved" young man who was respected by his peers. "His loss has not just been felt by his family and friends, but anyone who has spent a mere moment with him. We cannot get Fintan back, but we hope today lessons will be learned, changes will be made and Fintan will leave behind a legacy that we hope will prevent future deaths," he said in a heartfelt tribute.
