Dinghy death prompts safety calls

Coastguards were called to the Saundersfoot beach

Safety on one of Wales' most popular beaches should be improved, an inquest of a five-year-old boy has been told.

At the hearing in Milford Haven on Thursday, Pembrokeshire Coroner Michael Howells questioned the lack of lifeguards on Saundersfoot beach.

Ryan was flown to hospital

Ryan Ingram from Kington, Herefordshire, was swept out by the tide on a dinghy while on holiday with his family last August.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death and called for tighter safety measures over the summer at the beach where the tragedy occurred.

Mr Howells said: "I am aware there is a great deal of feeling in Saundersfoot that there should be greater safety precautions.

"This is a Blue Flag beach and I think that if they are going to keep that status something has got to be done."

I got to within two or three feet of him but I just couldn't get any nearer

Michael Ingram

Ryan's father Michael Ingram told the inquest how he swam out to his son but was forced to turn back just before reaching him.

The boy fell overboard and drowned minutes later.

The inquest heard the youngster, could not swim and was always supervised by his parents, who insisted he wear water wings.

But Ryan removed the buoyancy aids and went into the sea.

"I picked up the arm bands and ran after him but by the time I got down to the edge he was in the sea and about 20 yards away," Mr Ingram said.

"I started swimming with the arm bands and I could see the dinghy was going further out.

I think the little boy must have panicked when he saw his father turn and come back because all I saw was him splash into the water

Witness Margaret Jones

"The breeze was taking it and I was up to my chest level so I dropped the arm bands.

"I got to within two or three feet of him but I just couldn't get any nearer.

Margaret Jones, from Ammanford, told the hearing how she had seen Ryan in the water.

"I got rather anxious that the dinghy was starting to drift a bit because I cannot swim."

She told the coroner how she had seen Mr Ingram running to the sea and try to catch the dinghy which was being swept out to sea.

"The little boy was on his knees in the dinghy, not sitting down, and I could see it drifting.

"I think the little boy must have panicked when he saw his father turn and come back because all I saw was him splash into the water."

Coastguard David James said the tide and wind had combined on the day to sweep the dinghy out.

"It was probably the worst situation," he told the inquest.

Mr Ingram located a beach attendant who called coastguards from Tenby and Milford Haven.

Ryan was found in the sea 500 yards from shore by a couple in a racing dinghy who tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

He was flown by helicopter to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.