Latest news with #MariaEjimofor
BBC News
11-06-2025
- BBC News
Aberavon beach deaths warning after David Ejimofor death
More people could die at a beach where a teenager drowned unless a lifeguard is stationed there at high-risk times, a coroner has Ejimofor, 15, died at Aberavon beach, Neath Port Talbot, on 19 June 2023, after jumping into the sea with friends while celebrating the end of their coroner Edward Ramsay also said he had seen no evidence that other measures put in place since David's, such as clearer signs, were "working effectively to reduce the risk".At the inquest into David's death, Mr Ramsay said a lifeguard on duty could have stopped him from dying. In a prevention of future deaths report, Mr Ramsay said a lifeguard had previously been stationed at the beach in spring and summer and it "was known to be effective at reducing the risk".He said he was not given a satisfactory explanation why that had been removed before David's death, "nor why that measure continues to be absent today". The report was issued to Neath Port Talbot council, Associated British Ports and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, urging action to prevent future inquest heard from fisherman Ethan Clarke who said he heard the boy telling other teenagers he "couldn't swim". He added that he heard the teenagers telling the boy "it would be fine" despite him telling them he could not Clarke said the teenager jumped in and began to panic as soon as he entered the mother, Maria Ejimofor, described her son as a "beautiful young boy", who was "bright and sporty".
Sky News
21-05-2025
- Sky News
Boy, 15, drowned after jumping off pier in South Wales, coroner concludes
A 15-year-old boy died from drowning after jumping off a pier in South Wales, a coroner has concluded. David Chiaka Ejimofor died on 19 June 2023 after jumping into the sea from the breakwater in Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, shortly after 7pm. Coroner Edward Ramsay said there had been a "lack of effective deterrents on the day in question" to prevent David from jumping in. "I have no idea if he saw the signage stating no access," the coroner said. "Secondly, even if he did, there was no physical barrier deterring entry." Mr Ramsay said that had a lifeguard been on duty at the time, it was possible David "would not have jumped and therefore not have drowned". David had received swimming lessons in the past, the inquest heard, and his mother Maria Ejimofor described him as a "cautious" swimmer. Internet searches on David's phone suggested he was "anticipating going swimming later that day" but he had expressed "some caution about jumping", the inquest heard. Mr Ramsay said the breakwater "should not have been used" for jumping into the sea but there was "effectively unrestricted and undeterred access". 1:10 Upon entering the water, David "very sadly found himself in immediate difficulty", the coroner said. "This was because whilst he had swam, and could swim, his swimming ability was not good," he added. Despite the "frantic efforts" of David's friends, his swimming ability "was not sufficient to keep him afloat", Mr Ramsay said. The coroner formally recognised the efforts of paddleboarding off-duty police officer Tyler Rowland, who helped get David to shore, and the members of the public who delivered CPR. Despite their efforts, and that of the emergency services, David was declared dead at the scene at 8.05pm. Mr Ramsay expressed his sympathy to David's family and said he would issue a prevention of future deaths report at a later date.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
Aberavon pier jump: Lifeguard could have deterred teen, inquest says
Having a lifeguard on duty could have stopped a teenager dying at a south Wales beach, a coroner has Ejimofor, 15, died at Aberavon beach, Neath Port Talbot on 19 June 2023, after jumping into the sea with friends while celebrating the end of their coroner, Ed Ramsay, said if a lifeguard was working "it is possible that David would not have jumped into water and would not have drowned".He also found there were not enough deterrents, such as barriers and signage, on the pier to prevent the death. Mr Ramsay said there was evidence that a "lifeguard on breakwater had worked in the past".On Tuesday, the court heard the lifeguard services finished at 18:00 BST that inquest found David jumped into the sea at about 19:00 and drowned within Ramsay said David's swimming ability "would have been a factor" too as well as the possible element of cold-water shock and mother, Maria Ejimofor, had previously said he had swimming lessons as a child but was not confident in the off-duty police officer who was paddleboarding arrived within two minutes of his disappearance under the water and helped recover the body from the coroner said David's size "made rescue efforts difficult" as he was a big and tall 15-year-old. The family maintained that signage on the pier was an issue - even though there was one sign warning of the dangers at the Mansell, representing the family, said David did not see this because he entered the breakwater further down the beach from the inquest heard better signage has been put up since David's Mansell said the presence of a lifeguard on the pier would have led to a "very different outcome for David".A prevention of future deaths report will also be published by the assistant coroner.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- The Sun
Schoolboy, 15, who tragically drowned after jumping off pier ‘had told pals he could not swim'
A SCHOOLBOY who died after jumping into the sea from a pier had told pals he could not swim, an inquest heard. David Ejimofor, 15, had been with friends to celebrate the end of their GCSE exams. Fisherman Ethan Clarke said he heard the teen voice concerns about making the leap on Aberavon beach, Port Talbot, South Wales. But his pals had told him 'it would be fine'. David plunged 12ft into the sea — before disappearing under the waves. He was pulled out by an off-duty cop, but despite receiving CPR from a nurse on the beach he died in June 2023. David's mum Maria said he had swimming lessons as a child but was not confident in the water. She said he would not have 'put himself in a dangerous situation'. The inquest at Swansea coroner's court continues.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Boy died after pier jump to celebrate end of exams
A teenager who died after jumping into the sea from a pier had told friends he "couldn't swim", an inquest has heard. David Ejimofor, 15, died at Aberavon beach, Neath Port Talbot, on 19 June 2023 after joining friends at the beach to celebrate the end of their GCSE exams. The hearing, at Swansea's Guildhall, heard from a fisherman who said he heard the boy telling other teenagers he "couldn't swim". His mother, Maria Ejimofor, described her son as "beautiful young boy," who was "bright and sporty". The fisherman, Ethan Clarke, said he heard the teenagers telling the boy "it would be fine" despite telling them he could not swim. Mr Clarke said the teenager jumped in and he began to panic as soon as he entered the water. He then disappeared under the water at which point the teenagers called for help. Tyler Rowland, an off-duty police officer, was paddleboarding with his partner at the beach. He noticed a group of seven teenagers at the pier about 19:00 BST, with some in the sea. He saw three head back to shore and told the inquest he heard them saying "he's gone". Mr Rowland said one teenager told him his friend had "gone under the water and not come back up". Mr Rowland jumped off his paddleboard and swam over to the group as they frantically looked for David. The inquest heard he dived down several times before finding David's body. He was helped to carry the body to shore by a nurse called Amy Saunders who was at the beach. In a statement read out in court, she described the efforts to rescue David at the beach as "never experiencing trauma like it". Simon Davies, Det Sgt of South Wales Police, who led the investigation, told the court it was "chaotic scenes" when he arrived at the beach with emergency services trying to revive David. The coroner asked Mr Davies if there was any evidence that David "entered the water not of his own free will". He said "no, none whatsoever". He told the inquest David's mobile phone was taken away as evidence and that revealed the phone had been used to search for two things before David's death. They were "how long should I wait after eating before swimming" and "what shorts to wear for swimming". Previous searches were about sport training and nutrition. The coroner also read a statement from David's mother, Maria Ejimofor, who said he had won athletics competitions, was a keen weightlifter and made TikTok tutorials on social media. His mother's statement said he "achieved so much in his 15 years" and had aspirations to become a doctor. She said he could swim after having lessons as a child but he was not confident in the water. The statement added "he would not have put himself in a dangerous situation" because he was not a risk taker. He often went to the beach because his family lived close by but was always cautious of the sea. A statement was also read from Associated British Ports (ABP) who own the structure where David and his friends were. It said the structure was not designed for recreational use, as it was "built as a break water and is not a pier". "The purpose of it is to protect the entrance of Port Talbot docks from wind and waves," the statement added. It also said there are signs warning of the dangers and it is checked monthly. The inquest continues. Beach safety questions asked after pier death Parents reveal devastation at son's beach death Teen drowned after jumping off pier with friends
