Boy died after 'falling in river on walk with aunts'

A two-year-old boy died after falling into a flooded river while on a walk with two of his aunts, an inquest has heard.

Xielo Maruziva fell into the River Soar from Packhorse bridge, in Leicester, on 18 February 2024. His body was found nearly four months later at the Aylestone Meadows nature reserve.

Senior coroner Prof Catherine Mason said Xielo was walking ahead of his aunt, Nicole Maruziva, and great-aunt Memory Maruziva, when he "stopped, turned and disappeared from view into the river".

On Monday, Leicester Coroner's Court heard tributes from Xielo's parents, Kayela Smith and Bradley Maruziva, who had to be "physically" removed from the river as he searched in vain for his son.

The inquest, which is being heard in front of a jury, was told Nicole and Memory had arranged to take Xielo on a walk and set off from his father's house in the afternoon of 18 February.

Nicole said Xielo was initially carried at the start of the walk due to roadworks on the path and small roads, before being allowed to walk when they entered Aylestone Meadows.

The inquest heard that Xielo's aunts took pictures with him in their arms at the beginning of Packhorse bridge but put him down after he started to cry

She told the court on Packhorse bridge, Xielo was a "bit ahead" of her and Memory, before he turned to his side.

The jury heard the bridge had a waist-height wall on both sides and it was not clear to pedestrians where the bridge ends.

Tearfully giving evidence, Nicole said: "I saw Xielo on the side and he took what looked like a step, but once he took that step, he wasn't there any more.

"I ran to the point in which he turned and I looked down, and that's when I saw that it opened up into water."

The inquest was told Nicole jumped into the water, despite not being able to swim, and used her arms to try and find him.

"As soon as I got in, the water was up to my chest so it was deep water and I was trying to find him with my arms but I could not feel anything in the water," she said.

Nicole told the court she was trying "to cling on to anything in the water", but added: "I couldn't find him."

Memory added she tried to get into the water but the "current was too strong", so she got out and called for help.

She added the path and water were both "dark", and she only realised it was not a continuous path when Xielo entered the water.

Xielo's father Bradley said he was upstairs at home when he heard his mother "in a panic" on the phone.

The inquest heard that his mother told him his sister and Xielo were in the water, so he headed "as fast as I could" to Aylestone Meadows.

Bradley added he could hear "screaming and shouting" as he approached the area, and was shown by Memory where Xielo fell into the water.

Jurors were told he entered the water, where he "couldn't see anything" and was dragged under by the current.

The court heard police rescue teams arrived when he was in the water and Bradley refused to get out of the river when instructed to do so.

Bradley said the rescue teams had to "physically" take him out of the water, and the court heard he was then taken to hospital with hypothermia.

Forensic pathologist Dr Frances Hollingbury told the jury that she had concluded that Xielo died as a result of the effects of being immersed in water.

Det Insp Kevin Hames, of Leicestershire Police, said Xielo entered the water at 17:00 and at 17:01, police were called, with the first responding officers at the scene at 17:09.

Jurors were shown bodycam footage of a police officer on the scene on 18 February, where the officer was told Xielo had "slipped" into the water.

In a tribute to her son, Kayela Smith told the court Xielo was a "deeply loved little boy" and had a "lifetime of love that will live forever".

She described him as "independent, curious, and adventurous", and said: "The best day of my life was the day he was born.

"He was loved by everyone and anyone who met him loved him instantly."

A statement from Xielo's father, Bradley, was also read to the court, which said he was "so proud" to be his father, adding his son would be "loved forever".

The statement, read to jurors, said Xielo loved to climb, with soft play being a regular activity.

"Xielo loved Spider-Man, and he thought he was Spider-Man when he put his costume on," the statement added.

The inquest continues.

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