The family of a 13-year-old boy who drowned while swimming in a river in Swansea, Wales, is urging authorities to improve safety in the area.
Kane Edwards died on May 24, 2022, after entering the River Tawe in Morriston, PEOPLE previously reported.
During an inquest on Aug. 18, officials confirmed his cause of death was consistent with drowning, adding that the cold water likely sent his body into shock. A firefighter testified that they discovered “a tree on the bottom of the river pinning the boy under it,” according to BBC News.
Following the inquest, Kane’s family raised concerns about the dangers at the site and the lack of lifesaving equipment nearby. His uncle, Gethin Edwards, noted that the nearest life buoy is about a 20-minute walk from the location. The family is now calling for one to be placed at the popular swimming spot, BBC News reported.
“As this is a known swimming area for children, at the minimum there should be a life buoy present there,” Gethin said. “Just last night there were five or six children swimming in the river in this area. It’s a well-known spot in Morriston, so Kane was not going to be the first or last person to swim there.”
A relative also described the area as “notorious” and warned that without changes, more tragedies could occur, WalesOnline reported.
Swansea Council told the inquest that signs are already in place warning about the dangers, but the authority would review whether to install a life buoy. Andrew Suter, the council’s water safety manager, added that officials are considering adding foliage to make access more difficult. He also noted there had been no previous reported incidents at the site, BBC News stated.
A witness recalled that one of Kane’s friends approached them in a panic, asking, “Have you seen my friend? He’s gone under the water and not come up,” BBC News reported. The friend later told investigators that Kane’s foot appeared to be trapped underwater, PEOPLE previously noted.
At the time, Detective Sergeant Kristian Burt of South Wales Police explained that Kane had “got into difficulty” while swimming, according to The Independent.
Coroner Edward Ramsay ruled the death accidental, concluding that Kane drowned “as a consequence of becoming trapped by underwater debris in fast-flowing water.” He added that Kane was “absolutely not aware of the hazards beneath” when he entered the water.
In a statement shared at the inquest, Kane’s family said they accepted his death was a “tragic accident.” They thanked emergency services for their efforts and expressed gratitude to the Morriston community for its support, WalesOnline reported.
Two years after the tragedy, Kane’s family continued to honor his memory. Speaking to WalesOnline in June 2024, his cousins Ffion and Ieuan McCormick-Edwards described the loss as “very tough” and said they were finding ways to keep his spirit alive, including running a 10K in his name.
“He was very sporty, very lively and really close to his mother and family,” Ffion recalled. “He was generally a really nice, easygoing and lovely boy. He would talk to anyone. He meant everything to his family, especially his brothers. He was so full of life he was the entertainment of the family.”
Swansea Council did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
