Coroner has death verdict quashed

Mr Blockley died in a rowing accident in December 2000

A coroner has obtained a High Court order quashing his own "accidental death" verdict on an Oxford University rower who died while training in Spain.

Leo Blockley, 21, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, died in December 2000 while training with Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club.

South Manchester coroner John Pollard took the rare move after "credible evidence" relating to safety came up.

He asked two senior judges to direct that a fresh inquest be held.

As a family we have to bear witness for him and make sure that he gets the justice he is entitled to Jane Blockley

Agreeing to the request, Lord Justice Maurice Kay, sitting with Mr Justice Moses, said all sides had now consented to the new investigation.

He added: "It is not necessarily desirable to say more about it at this stage".

The judge did not refer to details of the evidence as a fresh inquest could involve a jury considering new witness statements.

The High Court took the extremely rare step of quashing the accidental death verdict after parents Jane and Stephen Blockley wrote to Mr Pollard alleging there was new evidence relating to safety issues.

Mrs Blockley, 54, who is a doctor, and her 53-year-old husband travelled to the High Court in London on Wednesday.

Their 28-year-old daughter, Rebecca, also attended to listen as the judges agreed to the fresh inquest in a hearing that lasted less than five minutes.

Freak storm

Later Mrs Blockley said: "We are relieved that there will be another, fuller inquest into our son's death.

"As a family we have to bear witness for him and make sure that he gets the justice he is entitled to.

"But it is not only about justice for Leo. We feel there are many safety lessons to be learned for the whole of the sport of rowing."

Mr Blockley died after being swept down the river during a freak storm.