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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sea warning after girl's drowning | Sea warning after girl's drowning |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A coroner has warned of the dangers of playing in the sea after an inquest into the drowning of a 12-year-old girl off Anglesey. | A coroner has warned of the dangers of playing in the sea after an inquest into the drowning of a 12-year-old girl off Anglesey. |
| Sarah Louise Roberts, of Star, Anglesey, was swept out of her depth by an offshore current off Llanddwyn island. | Sarah Louise Roberts, of Star, Anglesey, was swept out of her depth by an offshore current off Llanddwyn island. |
| Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said it reinforced the message that there was no such thing as a safe beach, especially where children are involved. | Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said it reinforced the message that there was no such thing as a safe beach, especially where children are involved. |
| A narrative verdict was recorded. | A narrative verdict was recorded. |
| The inquest in Caernarfon was told Sarah had had swimming lessons at school and could swim "a bit." | The inquest in Caernarfon was told Sarah had had swimming lessons at school and could swim "a bit." |
| She had been on the beach off Newborough, with her foster mother Paulette Foster, her friend, and four other children in August 2005. | She had been on the beach off Newborough, with her foster mother Paulette Foster, her friend, and four other children in August 2005. |
| If the delay (in calling the emergency services) was actually half an hour or more then that's to be deplored. Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones | If the delay (in calling the emergency services) was actually half an hour or more then that's to be deplored. Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones |
| Mrs Foster told the inquest that Sarah was desperate to get into the sea. | Mrs Foster told the inquest that Sarah was desperate to get into the sea. |
| To begin with she played with the other children but gradually Sarah went further and further out. | To begin with she played with the other children but gradually Sarah went further and further out. |
| The inquest was told the other children knew she was going further out and they called to her to come back, but she ignored their calls. | The inquest was told the other children knew she was going further out and they called to her to come back, but she ignored their calls. |
| Suddenly the children looked round and Sarah had disappeared so the other children left the scene and came up the beach. | Suddenly the children looked round and Sarah had disappeared so the other children left the scene and came up the beach. |
| At that point a beach warden got involved and the inquest heard differing versions of what happened. | At that point a beach warden got involved and the inquest heard differing versions of what happened. |
| Safe beach | Safe beach |
| Mrs Foster said the beach warden delayed calling the emergency services for more than 30 minutes. | Mrs Foster said the beach warden delayed calling the emergency services for more than 30 minutes. |
| But the beach warden Richard Mulcahy said the delay was no more than five minutes. | But the beach warden Richard Mulcahy said the delay was no more than five minutes. |
| Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said: "If the delay (in calling the emergency services) was actually half an hour or more then that's to be deplored. | Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said: "If the delay (in calling the emergency services) was actually half an hour or more then that's to be deplored. |
| "The coastguard should have been summoned immediately it was suspected someone had disappeared in the water." | "The coastguard should have been summoned immediately it was suspected someone had disappeared in the water." |
| Recording a narrative verdict, which outlines events leading to the death, the coroner said this reinforced the fact that there was no such thing as a safe beach, particularly as far as children were concerned. | Recording a narrative verdict, which outlines events leading to the death, the coroner said this reinforced the fact that there was no such thing as a safe beach, particularly as far as children were concerned. |
| The coroner also said Sarah's stubbornness contributed to her death. "When the boys called for her to come back she ignored them" | The coroner also said Sarah's stubbornness contributed to her death. "When the boys called for her to come back she ignored them" |
| 'Lovely daughter' | 'Lovely daughter' |
| He also urged parents and carers to observe children more carefully at the seaside. | He also urged parents and carers to observe children more carefully at the seaside. |
| "It's part of growing up to have a wonderful time on the beach. But for parents it should be borne in mind that there's no such thing as a safe beach," he said. | "It's part of growing up to have a wonderful time on the beach. But for parents it should be borne in mind that there's no such thing as a safe beach," he said. |
| After the inquest, solicitor Bethan Jones, representing Sarah's mother Susan, said :"She was a lovely daughter and is missed very much. | After the inquest, solicitor Bethan Jones, representing Sarah's mother Susan, said :"She was a lovely daughter and is missed very much. |
| "The family don't want to go into the specifics of what happened that day. It's a difficult time for them." | "The family don't want to go into the specifics of what happened that day. It's a difficult time for them." |
| During the inquest, when local demands for more beach wardens were raised, Mrs Roberts called out: "Why haven't they lifeguards as well?" | |
| A council spokesperson said after the hearing: "Sarah Louise Roberts was not in the care of Anglesey County Council when this tragic accident occurred. | |
| "The county council does not currently employ lifeguards. However, the authority is currently conducting a comprehensive review of its coastal by-laws, and this review may include investigating the role of beach wardens and the possibility of introducing lifeguards on Anglesey beaches." |