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Boy, 14, Drowns Saving Friends in River
21 Sep
Summary
- A 14-year-old boy drowned while attempting to rescue friends in a river.
- The teenager, who could not swim, entered the water to help struggling friends.
- The incident occurred during a heatwave, contributing to multiple water fatalities.
A 14-year-old boy, Baltazar Da Costa, tragically drowned on May 27 after attempting to rescue two friends in a river near Donnington Bridge in Oxford. The inquest heard that Baltazar, who was unable to swim, entered the water when his friends began struggling. He had been with a group of young people when a ball drifted into deeper water, prompting the rescue attempt.
Despite efforts by paramedics and a witness who bravely entered the water, Baltazar was pronounced dead at the scene. His death occurred during a heatwave, which sadly led to at least 11 other water-related fatalities across the UK. The stretch of river where the incident occurred has a history of drownings, with previous safety campaigns launched in the area.
