Brave Friend’s 10 Daring Rescue Attempts Fail to Save 10-Year-Old from Drowning Tragedy in Reading
Desperate Struggle at River Kennet
Last August, 10-year-old Shadrack Appiah drowned in the River Kennet near Waterloo Meadows, Reading, despite heroic rescue attempts. On August 21, 2023, Shadrack was swimming with friends when he suddenly slipped underwater and cried for help around 1:45 pm. His best mate plunged into the river not once but ten times trying to save him.
A mother of one of the children also jumped in twice, desperate to reach him, but to no avail.
Emergency crews from Berkshire Fire and Rescue arrived at 2:05 pm, recovering Shadrack within 20 minutes. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at hospital by 3:25 pm.
Family Left Shattered
Speaking at the inquest, Shadrack’s grand-uncle, Dr Stephen Appiah, described the family as “inconsolable” over the heartbreaking loss. The tragedy was made even more cruel by the fact that Shadrack was terrified of water.
“Shadrack would never go into a pool. The family tried everything. It just scared him,” said Dr Appiah. “It especially surprised the family that he died in water, the very thing he was so scared of.”
Swim Lessons Offered but No Signage Warning
Evidence revealed Shadrack had attended ten swimming lessons at New Christ Church Primary School in Year 5 but was still unable to swim effectively. Crucially, there were no warning signs about the river’s deep water at the fatal spot — despite guidance from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to install such warnings.
Following the tragedy, Reading Borough Council has now put up warning signs at the site to boost safety.
Coroner’s Verdict and Calls for Action
Coroner Hannah Godfrey is expected to rule Shadrack’s death as a tragic misadventure by drowning. She praised the brave efforts of those who risked their lives trying to rescue him.
This heartbreaking incident has sparked urgent debate about water safety and the need for better swimming education. RoSPA continues to campaign for stronger safety measures to stop similar tragedies in the future.
