By Peter Omopo
A coroner in South Wales has attributed the tragic drowning of 15-year-old Nigerian teenager, David Ejimofor, to inadequate safety measures at Aberavon Beach in Neath Port Talbot.
David died on the evening of June 19, 2023, after jumping from a breakwater into the sea. The inquest into his death, held on Tuesday, concluded that a “lack of effective deterrents” played a significant role in the incident.
Coroner Edward Ramsay, delivering his verdict, noted that while David had received some swimming training, his ability was insufficient to cope with the conditions at the beach. “Despite the frantic efforts of David’s friends, his swimming ability was not sufficient to keep him afloat,” he said.
David’s mother, Maria Ejimofor, described him as a cautious swimmer. The inquest revealed that the teenager had been researching swimming locations on the day of the incident and had shown hesitation about jumping into the water.
Emergency services responded quickly to the scene following distress calls, and off-duty police officer Tyler Rowland, who was paddleboarding nearby, assisted in pulling David from the water. Members of the public attempted CPR before paramedics arrived, but he was pronounced dead at 8:05 p.m.
Ramsay expressed concern over the lack of physical barriers at the breakwater and questioned whether David saw or understood the signage indicating restricted access. “Even if he did, there was no physical barrier deterring entry,” he said.
The incident has raised questions about public safety at popular recreation sites and may prompt calls for improved preventative measures to avert similar tragedies.
