An inquest into the death of a second teenage boy in a Carlisle river tragedy has been formally opened by a coroner.
Four friends got into difficulty while in the River Eden in the Rosehill area, on the city outskirts, during the late afternoon of Friday May 26, which was the last day of school term.
As they got into trouble, one youngster managed to reach the shore while brave passer-by Luke Marwood went to the aid of two others, including Jaden Doyle, aged 14.
A fourth boy, 15-year-old Lewis Kirkpatrick, did not emerge from the water, sparking a major multi-agency search and rescue operation.
This continued for 18 hours before Lewis’s body was found trapped under water close to where he was last seen.
An inquest into Lewis’s death was opened last month by a coroner who urged everybody going into open water, particularly in hot weather, to be cautious and aware of dangerous steep drops in banking away from the shore.
Jaden, a much loved son, brother, grandson and nephew, sadly also died almost three weeks after the incident, on June 15, peacefully at Carlisle’s Eden Valley Hospice.
His mother Mel, in a moving tribute, described Jaden as so funny, quick-witted and very caring with such a good heart.
“He will be missed every single day by his family and his friends. He had such good friends,” she said.
An inquest into his death was opened this morning at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court by Dr Nicholas Shaw, assistant coroner for Cumbria.
Outlining some brief circumstances into the incident, Dr Shaw said: “Jaden was playing in the water with other friends when they got into difficulty. A member of the public called emergency services and her partner went into the water to help the boys out.
“Unfortunately, even though Jaden was taken from the water and airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, treatment ultimately was unsuccessful and he was found to have suffered from severe brain damage due to his period of immersion.” Jaden had then been returned to Cumbria.
Dr Shaw adjourned the inquest to a provisional resumption date of November 28.
Paying tribute to Lewis after his death, his parents Nichola and Paul thanked those who searched for their son. He was, they said, a kind, caring and funny teen who had a cheeky and infectious smile. They added: “Lewis was the baby of the family and his death has left a gaping hole that can never be filled.”
