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Teenager's River Plunge Ends in Tragedy Due to Learning Disorder
7 Oct
Summary
- 15-year-old Lotus Bowker drowned after jumping into river despite not being able to swim
- Lotus had a developmental learning disorder that affected his risk assessment
- Lotus's parents had repeatedly warned him not to visit the dangerous river area
In a tragic incident, a 15-year-old boy named Lotus Bowker drowned after jumping into a river in Lancashire, England. According to an inquest held at Preston Coroners' Court, Lotus had a developmental learning disorder that affected his ability to assess risks properly.
Lotus's parents had repeatedly warned him not to visit the River Wyre near Garstang Cricket Club, as he was unable to swim. However, on May 17th, Lotus went to the river with three friends. When they reached the water, Lotus immediately began to struggle and drown.
Despite the efforts of several bystanders who tried to rescue Lotus, he was underwater for around eight minutes before being pulled out. Lotus was rushed to the hospital but sadly passed away early the next morning. The coroner ruled his death as misadventure, stating that Lotus's learning disorder made him "quite easily led" and unable to properly assess the risks.
Lotus's family is now seeking to warn other young people about the dangers of swimming in open water, especially for those with communication issues or learning disorders. They hope Lotus's tragic story will encourage greater safety precautions and awareness to prevent similar accidents in the future.
