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Investigation and inquest
On 24 June 2023 the Senior Coroner commenced an investigation into the death of DAVID CHIAKA EJIMOFOR aged 15 (hereafter “DAVID”).
The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest held between 19 - 21 MAY 2025 before me sitting alone in the Swansea Coroner’s Court.
Box 2 of the Record of Inquest recorded that DAVID’S medical cause of death was “(a) consistent with drowning”.
Box 4 of the Record of Inquest recorded a conclusion of Misadventure.
Circumstances of the death
Box 3 of the Record of Inquest recorded that DAVID died:
“At 2005 on 19 June 2023 at the little beach at Aberavon having drowned after jumping into the sea from the breakwater, to which he had, effectively, unrestricted and undeterred access. The breakwater should not have been used for that purpose but was known to have been used for that purpose by local children and teenagers, especially in the spring and summer months when the weather was good and the tides were high. In the past lifeguards had been stationed at or around the pier, at these times, to deter this activity. No lifeguard was present at the time that David jumped. Had there been one it is possible that David would not have jumped and therefore would not have drowned”.
Coroner’s concerns
(1) There are no lifeguards stationed at the breakwater during higher risk periods in the spring and summer months (when the weather is good and the tides high), when children and young people have been seen/known to jump into the water from it.
(2) Jumping from, and the water around, the breakwater is known to be dangerous.
(3) The practice of placing a lifeguard at the breakwater at times of higher risk in the spring and summer months (when the weather is good and the tides high) had been in place historically and was known to be effective at reducing the risk.
(4) I was not given, in evidence, a satisfactory or cogent explanation as to why that measure had been removed prior to DAVID’s death, nor why that measure continues to be absent today.
(5) Nor was I shown any evidence that other deterrence measures put in place since DAVID’s death (including clearer signage and a limited-height barrier) are otherwise working effectively to reduce the risk.
Information checked against the published report and official responses