Bodybuilder youngster, 15, who jumped off pier in party of completing checks won’t have drowned if a lifeguard used to be provide, coroner regulations – as he warned of long term deaths

A teen who drowned at a South Wales seaside after leaping off a pier in party of completing checks would possibly no longer have died if a lifeguard used to be provide, a coroner has mentioned. 

David Ejimofor, 15, died once you have into bother all the way through a ‘coming of age rite’ within the water off Aberavon Beach, Port Talbot.

His circle of relatives mentioned he jumped into the ocean with buddies at prime tide in what used to be mentioned to be a well known native end-of-school-year custom.

David used to be rushed to the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, however he may just no longer be stored.

In a prevention of long term deaths file, the assistant coroner for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot mentioned {the teenager} drowned in June 2023 after jumping from the breakwater.

Edward Ramsay mentioned no lifeguard used to be stationed across the pier to prevent the harmful task, as have been the case up to now.

The coroner mentioned he had won no reasons why the measure have been stopped ahead of the tragic incident, and warned long term deaths may just happen until protection measures are advanced.

‘The breakwater must no longer were used for that objective however used to be identified to were used for that objective via native kids and teens, particularly within the spring and summer season months when the elements used to be excellent and the tides had been prime,’ Mr Ramsay mentioned.

‘In the previous, lifeguards have been stationed at or across the pier, at those instances, to discourage this task.

‘No lifeguard used to be provide on the time that David jumped.

‘Had there been one, it’s conceivable that David don’t have jumped and due to this fact don’t have drowned.

‘I used to be no longer given, in proof, a enough or cogent clarification as to why that measure have been got rid of previous to David’s dying, nor why that measure remains to be absent these days,’ the coroner persisted.

After his dying, {the teenager}’s circle of relatives arrange a petition addressed to Neath Port Talbot Council not easy they toughen the safeguarding on the seaside.

But the coroner mentioned he had no longer been proven ‘any proof that different deterrence measures installed position since David’s dying (together with clearer signage and a limited-height barrier) are in a different way running successfully to scale back the danger.’

At a prior listening to, Swansea University pathologist Dr Williams famous that the promising bodybuilder used to be instructed via his friends that they might assist him if he discovered himself suffering to swim.

The game famous person and TikTok famous person used to be heavier than a regular 15-year-old and had a bodybuilder’s vitamin.

David’s circle of relatives pictured visiting Aberavon Beach the place floral tributes the place left for his or her son

The inquest heard that witnesses famous that the kids who had attempted to stay David afloat had been bodily ‘exhausted’.

In a tribute, David’s circle of relatives mentioned he used to be ‘a colourful and promising younger boy’ and a cherished ‘son, brother, cousin, nephew and good friend’.

They additionally described him as ‘well-behaved and God-fearing’ with an ‘unwavering hobby for sports activities and well being’.

‘He used to be at all times striving to be the most efficient model of himself. He has an infectious smile, worrying nature, and boundless enthusiasm. He touched the lives of many.’

‘David’s desires of a vivid long term had been lower brief, however his reminiscence will eternally live to tell the tale within the hearts of those that knew and beloved him.

‘As described via locals, it is a ‘every year coming-of-age rite’ practised after GCSEs and A-levels that all of the group is acutely aware of,’ his circle of relatives wrote as a part of the petition.

‘If everybody, together with colleges, are acutely aware of this custom, indubitably we’d be expecting the council to have higher safeguarding measures in position, particularly right now of 12 months.

‘David Ejimofor used to be no longer the primary to endure this kind of destiny by the hands of this pier.

David jumped off the pier with a bunch of buddies as a part of a ‘coming of age ritual’

‘We don’t need David to be some other statistic.

‘We need his title to function an finish of this unlucky path.

‘It is for that reason that we search alternate and reform via making improvements to safeguarding measures at Aberavon Beach.’

The coroner’s file has been despatched to Neath Port Talbot Council, Associated British Ports and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, who’ve 56 days to reply.