Inquest opens into tragic death of Athrun Lombardo off Llandudno coast

An inquest has been opened into the tragic death of teenager Athrun Lombardo. A major land, sea and air search was launched after the 16-year-old vanished on May 10 while staying in Llandudno with his parents and brother.
The teenager, said to have complex needs and being autistic and dyspraxic, was last seen at the resort's West Shore wearing only his blue swimming shorts. Four days later his body was found in the sea and a paramedic at Conwy lifeboat station confirmed his death.
After a post-mortem examination, Home Office pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf gave a provisional cause of death as drowning.
At the opening of an inquest in Ruthin, John Gittins, Senior Coroner for North Wales East and Central, said the family, from Emmersons Green, Bristol, had been visiting Mrs Lombardo's parents in Llandudno and staying in an Airbnb.
The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed. Following the youngster's tragic death, Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan, of North Wales Police, said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Athrun's family, who wish to thank all agencies and members of the public for their overwhelming support with the search, and for not giving up on his recovery.
'This is not the outcome anyone hoped for, but we hope it can now provide some answers for Athrun's family. I continue to ask for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly difficult time.'
Why journalists cover inquests and why it's crucial that we do
Reporting on an inquest can be one of the hardest types of stories a journalist can write.
More often than not, they are emotionally charged proceedings attended by grief-stricken people who are desperate for answers.
Sometimes, inquests can seem quite clinical due to a coroner's need to remain impartial and level-headed so that they can draw a conclusion from desperately sad events.
As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one, the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives.
Families are often surprised - and sometimes angry - when they see a reporter in attendance.
Understandably they worry the nature of their loved one's death will be sensationalised and that a news story will forever tarnish their memory.
Responsible and ethically minded journalists will do what they can to report inquests sensitively, while not shying away from the often upsetting facts.
It is vital that the public don't forget that inquests are a type of judicial inquiry; they are after all held in a coroner's court.
The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of 'open justice'.
But in doing so journalists must follow the guidance provided by the Independent Press Standards Organisation and set out in Editors' Code of Conduct.
It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret.
An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death.
But most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening.
Inquests are not criminal courts - there is no prosecution or defence - they are fact-finding tribunals which seek to answer four key questions:
Who is the person who died?
Where did they die?
When did they die?
How did they die?
They do not apportion blame.
Once these questions are answered a coroner will be able to record a conclusion.
The wider lessons that can be learned from an inquest can have far-reaching consequences - but if journalists do not attend them how can the public be made aware?
The harsh reality is they can't. Coroners often do not publish the results of an inquest.
Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system - and numerous others who need to answer vital questions - is not held to account.
Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide.
Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest.
Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.
Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected.
However, as has been seen by many brilliant campaigns run by newspapers and websites up and down the country, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Telegraph

8 hours ago

• Telegraph

Migrants turn from small boats to yachts

Border Force is struggling to keep up with the increasing number of migrants entering the country by yacht, a leading union has claimed. People smugglers are coming up with new ways to get migrants across the English Channel into the UK ahead of a change to the maritime rules in France that will allow border police and gendarmes to stop boats from leaving waters within 300 metres of their coastline. Private boats and trawlers are growing in popularity as an ' easy and low-risk' route for bringing illegal migrants to the UK. Some 17,817 migrants have arrived so far this year, up 40 per cent on last year and the highest to this point in the year since the first arrivals in 2018. Lucy Moreton, from the ISU, which represents Border Force staff, said there simply is not enough resources to keep up with demand. 'It is a growing issue as the small-boat route becomes more challenged. It's something we have started monitoring more, but we simply do not have the staff to do everything,' she added. 'Most of the ports in the UK do not have a Border Force officer working at them so it comes down to the local police and the public. The system of boat ownership is very hard to monitor.' In April, Border Force officials intercepted a yacht off the Cornish coast and discovered 20 people hiding below deck. The 19 men and one woman, all thought to be Albanian nationals, were trying to enter the UK illegally. They were detained pending deportation, the Home Office said, and three men were arrested. About 437 migrants crossed the Channel on Friday in seven small boats, Home Office figures revealed. The number of migrants who have crossed the Channel this year now far surpasses that of previous years. By June 20 2024, 12,313 migrants had made the journey, compared to 10,518 in 2023 and 11,690 in 2022. The figures come after The Telegraph reported migrants had vowed they would 'never give up' trying to reach Britain, despite the stricter measures set to come into force in France. Jamal, a 24-year-old Sudanese man, said: 'If the police stop us in the water when we try to reach the boats, then we will go back to the beach the next day or the next week. We'll never give up.' Until now, the French have refused to intervene in the water because they claim maritime laws prevent them from taking action that could put lives at sea at risk. But the new strategy will see 'taxi boats' packed with migrants intercepted in shallow waters off Channel beaches. When The Telegraph visited Calais on Friday, there were signs that French police were taking a more interventionist approach in the migrant crisis, in response to criticism by the British Government. On Tuesday, No 10 admitted that the migrant crisis was 'deteriorating'. A spokesman said: 'Migration should be a key focus given the deteriorating situation in the Channel, they confirmed, adding that they should continue to work closely with other partners to find innovative ways to drive forward progress.'

North Wales Chronicle

10 hours ago

• North Wales Chronicle

More than 400 migrants arrive in the UK crossing the Channel in small boats

According to Home Office figures, 437 people made the crossing on Friday June 20 in seven boats, bringing the total for the year so far to 17,817. This compares to 12,313 by the same date in 2024 and 10,518 in 2023 while 11,690 had made the crossing by June 20 in 2022. The latest arrivals come after Sir Keir Starmer said the situation was 'deteriorating' and threatened a visa crackdown. The Prime Minister signalled that countries which did not do enough to tackle the irregular migration crisis, for example by taking back failed asylum seekers, could face repercussions in the numbers of visas issued to their citizens. Sir Keir's message came as French police were seen to employ more robust tactics on the beaches this week including using teargas. But they were also seen to stand by and watch once migrants had entered the water to board a dinghy in the hope of crossing the English Channel.

Rhyl Journal

10 hours ago

• Rhyl Journal

More than 400 migrants arrive in the UK crossing the Channel in small boats

According to Home Office figures, 437 people made the crossing on Friday June 20 in seven boats, bringing the total for the year so far to 17,817. This compares to 12,313 by the same date in 2024 and 10,518 in 2023 while 11,690 had made the crossing by June 20 in 2022. The latest arrivals come after Sir Keir Starmer said the situation was 'deteriorating' and threatened a visa crackdown. The Prime Minister signalled that countries which did not do enough to tackle the irregular migration crisis, for example by taking back failed asylum seekers, could face repercussions in the numbers of visas issued to their citizens. Sir Keir's message came as French police were seen to employ more robust tactics on the beaches this week including using teargas. But they were also seen to stand by and watch once migrants had entered the water to board a dinghy in the hope of crossing the English Channel.