Kane Edwards, 13, drowned while swimming in the River Tawe in Swansea, Wales
The tragedy took place in May 2022 and the teen’s body was located after a “frantic” search
His friend later told authorities he saw that Kane’s foot was seemingly “trapped” in the water, despite the current
A 13-year-old boy drowned in the U.K. and was later found stuck under a tree in the water, officials said at a hearing this week.
Thirteen-year-old Kane Edwards died on May 24, 2022, after going swimming with a friend in the River Tawe in Morriston, Swansea — in Wales — according to an inquest on Monday, Aug. 18, into his death, the BBC reported.
Police said at the time that the boy had “got into difficulty,” The Independent reported.
According to the new inquest, a witness recalled Kane’s friend saying to them, “Have you seen my friend? He’s gone under the water and not come up.”
The boy’s friend later told authorities he saw that Kane’s foot was seemingly “trapped” in the water, despite the current.
After a “frantic” search, Kane’s body was located near the river’s center, the BBC reported.
A fire team member said they found “a tree on the bottom of the river pinning the boy under it.”
Kane’s cause of death was consistent with drowning, and officials also noted the water’s cold temperature would have led to shock.
During the inquest, it was revealed that emergency services initially had trouble finding Kane’s exact location and three different pools in the area were searched.
In the wake of Kane’s death, he was remembered as a “lovely boy” by his family.
“He was very sporty, very lively and really close to his mother and family,” cousin Ffion McCormick-Edwards told Wales Online in 2024.
“He was generally a really nice, easy going and lovely boy,’ Ffion said then. “He would talk to anyone. He meant everything to his family, especially his brothers. He was so full of life he was the entertainment of the family.”
Kane’s headteacher, Martin Franklin, said in a previous statement, according to The Independent: “Our whole school community is devastated by the news, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of our pupil.”