'Selfish' drivers delayed response to drowning girl

A coroner has condemned “selfish” drivers after illegally parked cars delayed emergency vehicles from reaching a beach where a 15-year-old girl had drowned.

However, an inquest heard there was no evidence the delays contributed to the death of Chiedza Nyanjowa after she got into difficulties on Formby Beach, Merseyside, on 25 May.

Chiedza, who could not swim, got out of her depth while fetching a volleyball from the sea while playing with her 11-year-old cousin.

Coroner Elizabeth Wheeler recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure but added: “I am concerned that selfish and illegal parking can have an impact of delaying emergency vehicles which can have implications for future deaths.”

The inquest, at Bootle Town Hall in Sefton, heard Chiedza, from Cheshire, had gone to stay with an aunt and two cousins in Bolton, Greater Manchester, for the half-term holiday.

They went to the beach at Formby, which was packed due to the hot weather on Bank Holiday Monday.

The court heard Chiedza and her cousin went to play volleyball at the water’s edge.

Merseyside Police

Coroner’s officer Emma Donaldson told the inquest the children were warned not to go into the water above shin height because Chiedza could not swim.

The youngsters followed the shoreline as the tide was going out and, the inquest heard, Chiedza’s aunt lost sight of them due to the distance and the volume of people on the beach.

Donaldson said when the ball went into the water, the two children went in after it.

“The depth increased quickly, reaching her cousin’s neck and Chiedza’s chin,” she said. “Chiedza tried to climb on her cousin’s shoulders, submerging her.”

The young girl told Chiedza to hold on to the ball as a flotation aid and swam back to shore.

The inquest heard it took 15 minutes to raise help and Chiedza was unconscious by the time members of the public pulled from the water.

Julie Swift

Two off-duty nurses and an off-duty doctor began performing CPR on the beach before the teenager was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital by air ambulance.

She died from her injuries four days later.

Wheeler commended the bystanders who had tried to help Chiedza, but was scathing of drivers who had parked illegally on the narrow roads near the beach.

She said: “I record my condemnation of selfish drivers who park illegally simply for the sake of having to avoid walking a short distance.”

However, Wheeler did not write a Prevention of Future Deaths report, a legal document coroners have the right to send to organisations or individuals if they believe action must be taken to prevent loss of life.

She said this was because Sefton Council had already put yellow lines on the road leading to the beach and she did not know who she could write to who was in a position to take action.

Wheeler offered her condolences to Chiedza’s family, who were not in court.

She said: “Her death is an utter tragedy and I am deeply sorry for her family, her friends and all those who knew her.

“I am so, so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what you are going through.”

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