A 13-year-old boy named Delvin Tinashe Musakwa tragically drowned shortly after entering the Exeter Canal. Delvin, a young football enthusiast, was swimming with friends at Clapperbrook Bridge on May 5, 2025. Despite his friend safely returning to shore after jumping into the water, Delvin did not resurface, leading to a frantic rescue attempt by members of the public.
After approximately 25 minutes, Delvin’s body was retrieved from the canal, and he was pronounced dead at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Described as a “very keen sportsman” by his mother Cecelia Chipiri, Delvin was a student at Isca Academy in Exeter and actively participated in Heavitree Youth FC, displaying a passion for football.
Although Delvin had received swimming lessons in the past, his mother mentioned that he was not a confident swimmer but always understood his limits in the water. Recognized as a responsible and sociable young man, Delvin had been enjoying a day of football with friends before deciding to go swimming at Double Locks due to the hot weather.
Eyewitnesses recounted the tragic events, with one individual recalling Delvin’s friend alerting others when Delvin failed to resurface after jumping into the water. Several brave individuals, including Katie Finch and her husband, attempted to rescue Delvin, with Katie swimming and diving under the water in search of him.
Despite their efforts, the murky water hindered the search, prompting additional rescue attempts by others who dove into the canal. Emergency services, including police, ambulance, fire crews, and the air ambulance, responded to the scene. Home Office forensic pathologist Dr. Deborah Cook determined that Delvin’s cause of death was drowning, possibly triggered by cold water shock upon entering the canal.
Senior coroner Philip Spinney commended the public for their courageous and selfless actions during the incident, attributing Delvin’s death to an accidental outcome likely associated with cold water shock.
