Schoolboy, 12, who 'died rescuing friends from river' hailed as a hero

A 12-year-old boy drowned after rescuing two friends from a river who were screaming for help, an inquest has heard.

Owen Jenkins was swept away after saving Jorgie Myers and Chelsea Holroyd from trouble in July last year.

Nottinghamshire Coroner’s Court was told that Jenkins’ body was found by the underwater rescue team in the River Trent at 10pm.

The schoolboy, a keen rugby player, was hailed as hero by his family and the community around Beeston Weir in Nottinghamshire.

The hearing was attended by Owen’s mother Nicola, 42, his father, Gary, 43, who wore a purple t-shirt that read “for Owen”, and Owen’s brother, Jordan, among other family members.

Coroner Mairin Casey said he attended Beeston Weir on July 10 with four friends: Jorgie, Chelsea, Paige Haworth and Emma Keeton.

Summarising events, the coroner said: “At some point they got into some kind of trouble in the water and clearly Paige, Emma and Owen became aware of that and perceived Jorgie and Chelsea to be having difficulty.

“It was at that point that Chelsea and Jorgie were in trouble and he took the decision to enter the water himself. Owen undressed and entered the water.

“He managed to throw her some distance [towards the shore] before he himself couldn’t resist the current.”

A statement from Jorgie, read to the court by the coroner, said: “Chelsea and I decided to walk out into the water a bit further. We were holding hands.

“She said she could feel the water pulling her. We continued to wade out and the water kept getting deeper.

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“I started to panic because I could feel the water pulling me. I didn’t know what to do because I couldn’t swim.

“I screamed to Owen ‘Help us, we’re floating away, we need help!'”

The coroner then told the court how Owen shouted to Emma to get Chelsea while he rescued Jorgie.

The statement continued: “I was pulled out of the water, I saw that Owen had got to me and lifted me up like someone carrying a baby.

“He then dropped me and told me to lay on my back and drift back to the shore.”

Giving evidence, Ruth Hyde, of Broxtowe Borough Council, said: “The most important step that was agreed was that warning notices would be erected in the vicinity of the weir.

“They give a clear message to anyone who is thinking of entering the water that it is dangerous.”

The councillor also told the inquest a temporary barrier was erected shortly after the incident along with life-saving equipment stored near the weir.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector of Nottinghamshire Police told the court he was satisfied no criminality was involved.