BOY, 13, DROWNS AFTER GOING ‘LAKE JUMPING’ DESPITE TELLING FRIENDS HE COULD NOT SWIM

SYSTON, Leicestershire — A 13-year-old boy drowned after entering a lake with a group of friends during a heatwave, despite having told them beforehand that he could not swim, an inquest has heard.

Hayden Jones-Powell was among a group of 15 young people who went to Meynell Lake in Syston, Leicestershire, after Wreake Valley Academy closed early because of unusually hot weather.

On June 25, Hayden entered the water shortly before 1 p.m. to cool off. He soon got into difficulty, prompting his friends to raise the alarm.

Teachers from his school rushed to the lake in an attempt to locate him, while emergency services were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. Specialist dive teams, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics joined the search.

But the search continued for hours.

Hayden’s body was eventually recovered from the water at approximately 8:15 p.m., more than seven hours after he was last seen.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that he had died by drowning.

‘HE TOLD HIS FRIENDS HE COULD NOT SWIM’

The inquest heard that Hayden had told his friends before entering the water that he could not swim.

Assistant coroner Isobel Thistlethwaite concluded that the teenager’s death was an accident. She found that Hayden had entered the water voluntarily despite being unable to swim.

Leicestershire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and that nobody else was involved in his death.

The tragedy occurred during a period of extreme heat, when young people across Britain were seeking ways to cool down in open water.

A FAMILY REMEMBERS A BOY WITH A BIG SMILE

Hayden’s parents, Ben Jones-Powell and Emily Ambler, described their son as a bright, funny and much-loved boy.

In a tribute, they said they wanted Hayden to be remembered for his “big smile”, his love of animals and football, and his quick wit.

“The world isn’t the same without him,” his parents said.

Hayden was a passionate supporter of West Bromwich Albion and was also remembered by his family as someone who loved being outdoors.

He left behind two older brothers and a sister.

His aunt Charlotte Powell previously described him as a “really lovely little cheeky boy” and said the family had been devastated by his death.

HUNDREDS GATHERED TO REMEMBER HAYDEN

The loss sent shockwaves through the Syston community.

Just days after Hayden’s death, hundreds of people gathered at Central Park for a memorial. Balloons were released in his memory, while flowers, cards and photographs were placed around the area.

Many mourners wore T-shirts featuring Hayden’s photograph.

His aunt said the scale of the tributes showed how deeply the teenager had been loved.

Wreake Valley Academy also paid tribute to its student, saying the school community was devastated by the tragedy and was providing support to students, staff and families affected by his death.

For those who knew Hayden, his death was not simply the loss of a student.

It was the loss of a son, brother, friend and young football fan whose life had barely begun.

Hayden Jones-Powell was just 13 years old.

His family now hopes he will be remembered for the smile, humor and kindness that defined the short life he lived.