Boy drowned while 'lake jumping', inquest concludes

A 13-year-old boy who drowned in Leicestershire had been "lake jumping" with a group of friends before getting into difficulty, an inquest has heard.

Hayden Jones-Powell disappeared after going into Meynell Lake, off Fosse Way in Syston, shortly before 13:00 BST on 25 June.

On Friday, an inquest into his death heard he had been with a group of 15 people after Wreake Valley Academy, where he was a pupil, closed early due to hot weather.

Isobel Thistlethwaite, assistant coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, concluded the teenager died as the result of an accident.

She said he "entered the water voluntarily" despite telling his friends he could not swim.

His friends sought assistance and teachers from the school went to the lake to try to find him, the inquest found. He was recovered by the emergency services at 20:15 BST.

His medical cause of death was given as drowning.

Speaking shortly after his death, his parents, Ben Jones-Powell and Emily Ambler, said Hayden had a passion for football and a love of animals.

"We want him to be remembered by his big smile," they said. "The world isn't the same without him. His love of animals, his passion towards football and being outside.

"Hayden also had an amazing sense of humour and was extremely quick-witted.

"We don't know how we will cope without him."

A spokesperson for Wreake Valley Academy previously said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our students and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with their family and friends.

"This tragic accident has deeply affected everyone at our school and we are providing support to students, staff, and families who need it.

"We kindly ask that the privacy of those affected is respected during this extremely difficult time."

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