A 10-year-old boy tragically drowned in the River Kennet in Reading last year despite his best friend making ten attempts to save him, an inquest has heard.
Incident Details
On August 21, 2023, Shadrack Appiah had been swimming with friends near Waterloo Meadows when he became submerged and began crying out for help at around 1:45 pm. His best friend courageously jumped into the river ten times in a desperate bid to save him.
A mother of one of Shadrack’s friends also jumped into the river twice to try to rescue him but was unable to reach him.
Emergency services, including Berkshire Fire and Rescue, arrived at the scene at 2:05 pm and managed to recover Shadrack from the water within 20 minutes. Despite their efforts, the boy was pronounced dead at the hospital at 3:25 pm.
Family Devastated
According to his grand-uncle, Dr Stephen Appiah, Shadrack’s family were left “inconsolable” following the tragedy. Speaking at the inquest, he expressed the family’s shock at the circumstances of Shadrack’s death, especially given his fear of water.
“Shadrack would never go into a pool. The family tried everything. It just scared him,” Dr. Appiah said. “It especially surprised the family that he died in water, the very thing he was so scared of.”
Swimming Lessons and Safety Concerns
The inquest heard evidence from Shadrack’s swimming teacher, who confirmed that despite having ten swimming lessons during Year 5 at New Christ Church Primary School, he was still unable to swim.
There were no warning signs about deep water at the section of the river where Shadrack drowned. This was despite a recommendation from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to install such signs. Following the tragedy, Reading Borough Council has now erected warning signs at the location.
Coroner’s Statement
Coroner Hannah Godfrey indicated she was “likely” to conclude that Shadrack’s death was the result of drowning due to misadventure or accident. She commended the bravery of those who tried to save him, acknowledging their desperate efforts to prevent the tragedy.
Legacy and Awareness
Shadrack’s death has sparked conversations around water safety, particularly the importance of warning signs and swimming education. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents continues to advocate for greater awareness to prevent similar tragedies.
