Jurors unable to say why Nathan drowned (From Bucks Free Press)

Jurors unable to say why Nathan drowned

2:38pm Friday 14th December 2007 in News By Lucinda Adam

JURORS at the inquest into the death of schoolboy Nathan Matthews have been unable to decide what caused him to drown.

Following two hours of deliberations at the end of a two-week inquest, the jury of nine people gave a narrative verdict saying the 11-year-old had drowned and died at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, at 12.30pm on July 12, 2004. But they could not identify the "primary event" that led to his death.

Nathan, who lived in Foresters, Waterend, had been pulled from the bottom of the swimming pool at Thame Leisure Centre at about 11.15am after disappearing below the water during a relay race. He was at the pool as part of a fun day with Stokenchurch Primary School.

The jury said it was unclear why Nathan had gone underwater but that the swimming had been "adequately supervised" and that he had been taking part in an "organised race".

They returned a narrative verdict, saying: "For reasons that cannot be ascertained, Nathan Scott Matthews went underwater and remained submerged until rescued. Based on the evidence we have heard, we believe this period of time to be between 30 and 45 seconds.

"Despite all reasonable efforts being made to revive him at poolside, in transit, and at hospital, attempts were unsuccessful and he died at John Radcliffe Hospital on the 12th July 2004 at 12.30pm.

"After considering the expert medical evidence, and on the balance of probability, we were unable to identify the primary event that led to Nathan Scott Matthew's drowning."