Activity trip drowning 'unlawful'

Herve Bola was on a week-long activity break

A teenager who drowned while on an outdoor activities holiday in the Neath Valley, south Wales, was unlawfully killed, an inquest has found.

The jury at Neath County Court heard how Herve Bola, 16, from Woodford Green in London, died at the Sgwd Gwladys Falls, south Wales in July 2002.

Gethin Lewis of the National Union of Teachers Wales, said the verdict was "deeply disturbing" and "perverse".

Herve's family now wants a decision not to bring criminal charges reconsidered.

The inquest heard that the teenager was on the first day of a week's trip based at the outdoor education centre in Glasbury, near Brecon, along with more than a dozen other boys.

Herve had jumped into the freezing water at the falls near the Brecon Beacons, but panicked and drowned within seconds.

Speaking after the inquest, the family's solicitor said Herve's mother and grandmother now wanted the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider its decision not to take any criminal action over Herve's death.

The death happened at the Sgwd Gwladys falls

One group member who was also a non-swimmer, Ahmet Tasan, had told the jury that youth worker Daniel Brown had said to Herve: "Jump in and I will save you".

Six other members of the group gave similar evidence to Mr Tasan, 20, from Ilford, Essex.

Senior instructor Ian McLeod said he had not heard Mr Brown say those words.

He told the jury he had warned Herve, and another non-swimmer, not to jump into the pool, because the teenager had told him earlier in the day he intended to do so.

The jury was told how the rest of the group, led by Mr Brown, had gone into the water and had held a competition to see who could make the biggest splash, which Mr Brown had won.

Mr Brown, who worked part-time for Redbridge Council, denied encouraging Herve to jump in the water, and said he had not actually spoken to the teenager while at the falls area.

He said: "I called on my colleague Darrel to come into the water. I said something like, 'Come on in mate, it is refreshing'."

His colleague had declined, saying he did not want to get his boots wet.

Small place

Mr Brown was the only person still in the water when Herve jumped. He had tried to help him but the teenager's struggles had forced him to let go.

Herve's grandmother Francoise Bola, with whom he lived, told the hearing that she had warned him never to go into the water before he left for the trip.

Coroner Dr David Osbourne told the jury before sending them out they had two possible verdicts, accidental death or unlawful killing.

He said for an unlawful killing verdict they had to be certain beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Brown had indeed called Herve to jump in and that he had not foreseen the danger.

He reminded the jury an expert witness had said it was "inconceivable" that anyone could have drowned in such a small place, surrounded by so many people, and that it was therefore unforeseeable.

Dyfed-Powys Police said in light of the verdict, the force would "further consult" with the CPS, but said any further comment would be inappropriate at this time.

Gethin Lewis, head of the National Union of Teachers Wales, said the verdict was "deeply disturbing".

"This verdict can only deter teachers, youth workers and others from providing young people with these valuable educational and social opportunities."

He added the union would look at the possibility of a legal challenge.