Disabled boy's French coach death

Christopher's family discussed his needs with organisers several times

A boy with a genetic condition which meant he had no sense of danger died after a coach reversed over him during a trip to France, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Brown, 12, whose family are from Swansea but now live in Essex, died from multiple injuries after the accident near Lourdes in April 2001.

The Swansea inquest was told that his personal carer took a toilet break and handed over charge of him to the trip organiser just before the accident.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.

The inquest heard that Christopher was smiling and blowing kisses, while he lay badly injured.

His mother Susan told the hearing her son, who also had severe learning and mobility disabilities, needed constant supervision due to his rare condition.

Christopher was visiting a hotel near Lourdes with a party of eight other disabled or disadvantaged children and their carers organised by the Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust, a Warwickshire-based charity.

On the morning of 18 April 2001, they had attended a short mass and were going outside to play football.

Watching Christopher was like watching a pan of milk on the stove - you had to keep an eye on him all the time Christopher's mother Susan

Christopher became separated from the rest of the group.

Coach driver Rene Theil said in a statement he had just dropped off a separate party at the hotel and had begun reversing his 54-seater vehicle when he thought he hit something.

He got out and found Christopher trapped under a wheel and called for medical help.

Christopher was taken to hospital, where he died.

The French authorities cleared Mr Theil of any blame. The incident was subsequently investigated by Essex Police.

Mrs Brown, who lives in Basildon, told the hearing that Christopher, who was brought up in the Newton area of Swansea, had Angelman Syndrome.

She said as well as causing Christopher's physical and learning difficulties it left him "child-like".

Mrs Brown added: "Christopher had absolutely no sense of danger - his life depended on the people who cared for him.

"Watching Christopher was like watching a pan of milk on the stove - you had to keep an eye on him all the time."

Lourdes is a popular place of pilgrimage

She said she and her husband Michael had only agreed that their son could go on the trip after meeting the organisers several times.

"Because of Christopher's non-sense of danger, we stressed Christopher needed one-to-one care. It was agreed this would happen," Mrs Brown said.

The inquest heard that it was the first time Christopher had been away with any group - outside the family or being looked after by a respite carer.

It had been agreed that a carer would even sleep in the same room as him every night.

Mrs Brown added: "It was an opportunity for Christopher to have a different experience of life. Christopher was never going to be able to go on skiing trips or other school trips. It was to be a social experience for him".

Det Supt Gareth Wilson, of Essex Police, said the organiser of the trip and Christopher's principal carer had been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence.

'Blowing kisses'

Members of the charity's executive board had also been interviewed by police under caution, the inquest was told.

But he said that the Crown Prosecution Service had decided no criminal charges would be brought against any individuals or the charity, which is based in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Christopher's principal carer for the week was Michael Stonestreet, a volunteer and a father-of-three.

He told the inquest that after the religious service he needed a toilet break and handed over responsibility for Christopher to trip organiser John Fowley.

"We both understood that Christopher was now in John's care," said Mr Stonestreet.

After leaving the toilet he went to the field where he thought they would be playing football but then he heard a shout, which he said alerted him to realise something was wrong.

He said when he got to the coach, Christopher was underneath the vehicle but conscious.

"Christopher was smiling and blowing kisses" but he said it was clear that he was severely injured".

The coroner Philip Rogers said Mr Fowley had declined a request to attend the hearing. However, an extract from a police interview with him was played in court.

He said in the interview that he did not remember having the conversation with Mr Stonestreet but said he had escorted Christopher to the field where they would play football.

Mr Stonestreet said he returned to Lourdes the following year "hoping that in some way it would start healing how I felt - it did not, I've not been since".