An inquest has heard how an 18-year-old Afghan refugee drowned while swimming in an English river during the scorching summer heatwave. Haroon Armani was with a friend, enjoying the warm weather in the River Great Ouse at Cardington Lock in Bedford on 16 June when he got into difficulty and drowned. Two other people tried to rescue him but were unsuccessful.
Mr Armani arrived in the UK in August 2021 as an unaccompanied adult and had fled Afghanistan due to fears of the Taliban, as members of his family had been in the army. He travelled with a group to Pakistan and was then smuggled in trucks through Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Italy and France before crossing the channel from Calais on a small boat. He was granted leave to remain in the UK in December of the same year.
The inquest at Ampthill revealed that Mr Armani had been used to swimming indoors at a local gym, but it was not known whether he had any experience of open water. Social worker Roseanne Johnstone described him as a fit and healthy young man who was very active and always had a smile on his face. His ambition was to become a police officer.
Bedfordshire senior coroner Emma Whitting concluded that his death was one of misadventure, and the cause of death was recorded as multiple organ failure as a result of drowning. She also noted that Mr Armani’s knowledge and experience of open water was unknown.
The tragic incident highlights the importance of water safety, particularly during hot weather when many people are inclined to go for a swim to cool off. It serves as a reminder that open water can be unpredictable and hazardous, and that swimming in designated areas under the supervision of trained professionals is always the safest option
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