Drowned teenager 'couldn't swim'

Francoise Bola had advised Herve not to swim on the trip.

An Essex teenager who drowned while on a trip in South Wales could not swim, his grandmother has told an inquest.

Herve Bola, 16, from Woodford Green, died in 2002, at the Sgwd y Gladys Falls, in the Neath Valley.

He got into difficulty after jumping into the river after the group had taken part in abseiling and a zip wire activity, witnesses said.

Herve's grandmother, Francoise Bola, broke down while giving evidence at Neath Coroner's Court.

Mrs Bola, who brought a photograph of her grandson with her to the hearing, said she had advised Herve not to swim on the trip.

She said Herve had told her: "Yes, I can never go in the water."

The inquest jury on Monday visited the site of the incident where Herve removed some of his clothes and jumped into the water.

He immediately got into difficulties and struggled to stay afloat, said coroner Dr David Osborne.

There were attempts to rescue him but he drowned.

Herve was one of 13 boys on a trip organised by the London Borough of Redbridge when the incident happened.

Herve moved to England from the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was aged between 11 and 13, the inquest heard.

The hearing continues.