An tragic incident occurred on the Devon coast where two cousins lost their lives after being swept off rocks by large waves, as reported in an inquest. Jordan O’Rourke, 24, was declared deceased at the scene, while Luke Keyte-Rigby, also 24, was taken to Torbay Hospital where he later passed away. Eyewitness Daniel Hoare shared his account during the inquest held at Exeter Coroner’s Court, describing how he saw the men being swept off rocks at Oddicombe Beach in Torquay on 27 May 2023. He highlighted that the waves were towering over the tall rocks the men were climbing on, leading to the tragic incident. The coroner later concluded that the deaths were due to misadventure.
During the investigation, Mr. Hoare informed the authorities that the cousins had climbed to the highest part of the rocks, where the force of the waves caused the first man to be swept into the water while screaming and waving his arms. Subsequently, another wave swept Mr. Keyte-Rigby into the water. Empty beer cans, vodka bottles, and cannabis were found by officers from Devon and Cornwall Police at the scene. The inquest also revealed that the cousins had been socializing together at various locations around Torbay, yet had not disclosed their plans to any family members for that specific weekend. Mark O’Rourke, brother of Jordan, mentioned during the hearing that his sibling was not a proficient swimmer.
Toxicology tests conducted on the cousins indicated that Mr. O’Rourke had consumed cocaine and cannabis, in addition to alcohol, before the tragic incident. Similarly, Mr. Keyte-Rigby had also consumed alcohol and taken cocaine, which could have impacted their cognitive abilities according to the findings presented during the inquest. The details uncovered shed light on the circumstances leading to the untimely demise of the two young men on that fateful day
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