An 11-year-old boy tragically passed away after entering the River Don in Doncaster and not resurfacing, an inquest revealed. Mackenzie Swift was last spotted going into the river near Mexborough on May 30, prompting a large 48-hour search operation to find him.
Concern arose when Mackenzie did not reappear, leading to the recovery of his body on June 2. An inquest at Doncaster Coroner’s Court was initiated and adjourned on Thursday, where details unfolded that emergency services were alerted on May 30 due to a child struggling in the water.
Coroner’s officer Siobhan Golightly explained that after reports of the child entering the water, a thorough search and rescue mission was launched by emergency services. Tragically, Mackenzie Swift’s body was found and retrieved on June 2.
Although the exact cause of death is pending confirmation, features consistent with drowning were observed by the pathologist, as noted by Ms. Golightly. Mackenzie’s body may soon be released to his family for the funeral, as a comprehensive inquest into his passing is scheduled for February 16 next year. Expressing deepest sympathies, Coroner Louise Slater conveyed her condolences to Mackenzie’s family during this challenging period.
In a separate incident, an inquest into the demise of a 12-year-old boy who lost his life while swimming in a Lancashire river unveiled that all children present tried to rescue him. Known as Junior, his full name Graham Junior Slater, from Leyland, perished while swimming in the River Ribble near Ribchester.
Authorities were notified around 2 pm on March 26, when Junior encountered difficulties in the water. A significant search effort ensued, culminating in the recovery of his body approximately six hours later.
Junior’s inquest commenced at Preston Coroners’ Court on the day of his funeral. Area Coroner Kate Bisset detailed how Junior and his friends entered the water, and Junior faced distress. Despite the children’s rescue efforts and the police involvement, Junior was found submerged in the water at 7:24 pm.
The court learned that Junior, born in Preston and residing in Clayton-le-Woods, will undergo a final inquest on September 18 at Preston Coroners’ Court under Assistant Coroner Richard Taylor’s supervision.
Junior’s untimely death adds to the distressing toll of 19 individuals who perished in water-related incidents during the May heatwave. Among those lost was a woman in her 60s who drowned while attempting to rescue her dog from the sea at Thornton-Cleveleys shortly after Junior’s passing.
Junior, formerly a student at The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School in Ribbleton, was warmly remembered by staff. Miss Kelly Hannah, his former headteacher, paid tribute to Junior, recalling his vibrant presence and the positive impact he left within the school community.
Reflecting on Junior’s passing, his family expressed profound sorrow, describing him as their beloved “blue-eyed boy” who brought immense joy to their lives. The Mirror has launched the ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign to address the alarming number of drowning incidents involving children in England, advocating for urgent governmental action to prevent further tragedies.
