Team's attempt to save moor girl

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Two team-mates of a 14-year-old girl swept away in a swollen river on a Ten Tors training exercise have told an inquest how they tried to save her.

Charlotte Shaw fell into Walla Brook on Dartmoor on 4 March 2007 in bad weather. She died later in hospital.

Sunny Lui, 19, told the inquest he chased after Charlotte but kept falling over in the waterlogged ground.

Team leader Neil Addington said he ran by the side of the river until he fell and lost sight of Charlotte.

Mr Lui said he had already crossed the fast-flowing river and helped Charlotte's friend Yasmin Moore to cross.

Cardiac arrest

He tried to reach Charlotte's hand as she was swept away, but he was unable to grasp it, he added.

In his statement, 17-year-old Mr Addington said he was the only one fast enough to keep up with Charlotte as she was swept along the river.

He said Charlotte said nothing, but she remained calm and was trying to get out and at one stage tried to get her backpack off.

He then fell over and lost sight of her.

Charlotte, from Frithelstock, died from cardiac arrest as a result of drowning.

A total of 26 people from three schools were airlifted from the moor the weekend Charlotte died.

Two months later, the Ten Tors was abandoned halfway through the weekend expedition because of heavy rain.

Answering questions from Devon Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland, Mr Addington said the weather on 4 March was far worse than on the actual Ten Tors expedition.

Criminal behaviour or negligence has been ruled out by detectives who investigated Charlotte's death.

The inquest was adjourned until next week.