Police could not have done more to save drowned teen - Inquest hears

Witnesses at the inquest into the death of 15 years old Kyle Bonnes, who drowned on April 7 2010, have recalled how the teen entered the river Faughan at a particularly treacherous stretch, known locally as the ‘Big Hole’.

One witness, Robert Brolly who had been playing with his two sons at the side of the river on the day in question, told the inquest that due to the fast flowing nature of the river that particular stretch was subject at times to a “whirlpool” effect which would have dragged the teen under the water.

The inquest, which opened in Magherafelt this morning also heard that the teen had shared a ‘10 glass’ bottle of vodka with a friend on the afternoon of the drowning and witnesses described him as appearing to be “off his head”.

The court heard that police were called to Faughan Valley playing fields at around 5pm on April 7 after Kyle and a friend were seen to be “carrying on” in the field and Kyle was seen to be exposing his buttocks and genitals.

Kyle had been known to police and had appeared in the youth court earlier that day. Witnesses told the inquest that Kyle and his friend began to run across the field when police approached them and Kyle made his way to the river.

A number of attempts were made to assist the teen once he entered the water but he quickly was overpowered by the strength of the flow of the river.

The inquest continues.