A 12-year-old boy, Junior Slater from Leyland, dies after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Ribble near Ribchester, Lancashire, an inquest hears. Multiple reports state that the incident occurs during the previous month’s heatwave when Slater and friends enter the water. According to the accounts covered by the inquest, the boy struggles in the river and other children attempt to help during the rescue effort. Despite these efforts, Slater does not survive.
The inquest focuses on the circumstances leading up to the drowning, including the location near Ribchester and the involvement of friends who were present in the water. It also examines the response to the emergency and what was known at the time. The reports describe the death as a tragic incident involving children swimming in the river during hot weather.
