Teenager 'told to jump in pool'

Herve Bola was on a week long activity holiday

A youth worker on an activity holiday encouraged a teenager who could not swim to jump into a pool moments before he drowned, a Neath inquest has heard.

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

The teenager was in a group of 13 boys on the trip arranged by the London Borough of Redbridge.

Ahmet Tasan, 20, the group's other non- swimmer, told the inquest jury of the frantic efforts to save his friend.

Mr Tasan, from Ilford in Essex, said that before Herve jumped in the pool at the waterfall at Pontneddfechan, youth worker Daniel Brown had told him: "Jump in and I will save you".

At one point he came up and I heard him speak and say 'help' then he went straight back down Ahmet Tasan

Mr Tasan, who was 17 at the time, said Herve had answered: "If you do not I will die, I will not survive"

He then went on to explain the party's efforts to save Herve after he jumped into the pool.

"He was struggling and splashing about. Basically what you would do if you cannot swim.

"He was trying to stay afloat but he was struggling. Daniel was trying to grab on to him, he was trying to lift him by his arms.

"At one point he came up and I heard him speak and say 'help' then he went straight back down.

"He came up three or four times. On the fourth he lost consciousness. I remember that. He wasn't struggling any more," said Mr Tasan.

Francoise Bola has told the inquest that Herve could not swim

He said that a number of the boys in the group all tried to help Herve when they realised that he was in trouble.

"But the water was cold and when some jumped in they were getting out of breath and someone would then have to go in and help them," he said, adding at one point he was going to jump in to help himself but panicked and "did not know what to do".

Mr Tasan told the inquest that he believed that Mr Brown had suggested the group go swimming, and that Mr Brown had asked the group whether there were any non-swimmers among them.

The inquest, which began at Neath County Court on Monday, had previously heard from Herve Bola's grandmother, Francoise Bola, with whom he lived, that the teenager could not swim.

The party had previously taken part in abseiling and a zip wire activity and had asked to do something water-related to cool down.

The hearing was adjourned until Thursday when Mr Brown is due to give evidence.