A university student tragically drowned after suffering cold water shock during a late-night swim in rough seas off the Plymouth coast, a coroner's inquest has concluded.
A Fatal Nighttime Dip
Michael Oppong-Yeboah, an 18-year-old environmental science student at the University of Plymouth, entered the water at East Hoe beach with around ten friends from his university jiu jitsu society in March 2024. The group had decided to go for a swim after a meal out, where Michael had consumed three cans of ale.
Evidence given to Exeter Coroner's Court revealed that Michael had told a friend, Charlie Cox, on the way to the shore: 'I can swim but I've not done it for a while. I'm not the greatest swimmer in the world.' After complaining the rocks hurt his feet, he jumped into deeper water from a knee-height position.
Overcome by the 'Turbulent' Sea
Michael swam a short distance before stopping to tread water. He then shouted for help but was struck by a wave and vanished from sight in the poor visibility. A police report stated that sea conditions were 'turbulent' that night.
Assistant coroner Ian Arrow concluded that Michael was overcome by the waves and succumbed to cold water shock, which severely impacted his ability to swim and stay afloat. His body was not recovered until three weeks later, found in the Devonport naval dockyard.
Coroner's Warning and Family's Anguish
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Mr Arrow issued a stark public warning. He said: 'I do hope the publicity surrounding the circumstances of his death makes members of the public aware of the very great danger of entering cold and rough seas particularly at night.'
This tragedy followed another in the region just days earlier, when two swimmers died during a traditional festive swim in Budleigh Salterton on Christmas Day.
Michael's mother, Doris Kyeremaa, described her son, who was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, as a devout Christian and a 'very caring person' she called 'Angel'. She revealed he had only ever had sporadic swimming lessons and was not known to have swum in the sea or a river before.
She urged the University of Plymouth to better educate students about the dangers of open water swimming and called for measures to prevent people entering the water at night.
