A teenage girl died from oxygen deprivation after eating pizza and chips then going swimming, an inquest has heard.
Lucy Reed, 15, went to Cleethorpes for a day trip with her mother Liz and a friend when the tragic incident struck in June 2023.
A post mortem examination by pathologist Dr Justin Cooke at Hull, concluded Lucy died from asphyxia after inhaling gastric contents as she struggled to find safety in the deep water with a falling tide pulling her further away from safety.
It was confirmed she had not drowned, but after eating a substantial meal before swimming, she had vomited and inhaled the contents of her stomach. The salt water may have been a contributory factor.
Greater Lincolnshire senior coroner Paul Smith said her death was ‘the unintended consequence of her swimming on a full stomach.’
The group went for an early lunch at a local restaurant and Lucy’s mother urged her to wait a while to allow her food to settle before going in for a swim. But shortly after she insisted on going for a swim before boarding the coach home.
Lucy went with her friend near Cleethorpes Pier while her mother went for a walk. They had arranged to meet back near the pier a short time later.
But when she failed to turn up, a major search and rescue operation was launched for Lucy, from Gainsborough, after her mother alerted authorities and called 999.
Lucy Reed, 15, died from oxygen deprivation after eating pizza and chips then going swimming in Cleethorpes, an inquest has heard
Greater Lincolnshire senior coroner Paul Smith said her death was ‘the unintended consequence of her swimming on a full stomach’
Rescuers found her later in the evening after more than three hours of searching. She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary but was sadly pronounced dead, the inquest at Grimsby Town Hall heard.
She had struggled to reach the shore and vomitted, then inhaling the contents and passing out.
The coroner concluded after a two-day hearing that her death was by misadventure.
In his record of inquest, he added: ‘Lucy Alexandra Reed died on 24 June 2023 in the River Humber at Cleethorpes as a consequence of asphyxiation. She had travelled to the coast for a day trip. She ate a substantial lunch and shortly thereafter went into the shallow water.’
He added: ‘The tide was falling and they rapidly found themselves out of their depth and drifting away from the shore. Neither were strong swimmers. After she had been in the water for approximately 30 minutes as Lucy tried to swim towards a point at which she could stand, she vomited, inhaling her gastric contents and losing consciousness.
‘Although her death was not formally confirmed for several hours, on balance of probability it occurred within minutes of the incident described above. It was the unintended consequence of her swimming on a full stomach.’
His conclusion highlighted the dangers of going into water after eating a substantial meal.
After police checks as part of missing person procedures, the coastguard was alerted at 3.15pm. Beach Safety staff and Humberside Police carried out land-based searches.
She had struggled to reach the shore and vomitted, then inhaling the contents and passing out
The coroner concluded after a two-day hearing that her death was by misadventure
Mr Smith said: ‘It is clear much was going on behind the scenes to locate her.’ He said Lucy had ventured out of her depth in the water.
Cleethorpes beach and waterside were busy, the coroner said. At 3.51pm The Coastguard Inshore Lifeboat was launched and the crew searched 500 metres on either side of The Pier.
After an unsuccessful search a further search was commenced at 4.35pm. Rescuers attempted to establish the flow of water impacted by the wind, tide and weather conditions on the potential location of the teenager.
The senior coroner said he accepted a Coastguard report which said looking out in the river without knowing where to look would have been futile. He said rescuers searched for more than three hours unsuccessfully.
Mr Smith said at around 5pm information was passed to Humberside Police from a member of the public, who recalled seeing someone in difficulty about 600 metres off the beach at 2pm.
The new information suggested a new search area further out into the river. The all-weather Coastguard Lifeboat was launched from Grimsby Docks, the inquest heard.
‘Almost immediately she was found and was winched into the helicopter. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was given on the flight. But sadly her death was confirmed at the hospital,’ said Mr Smith.
He said the two friends were not strong swimmers fighting an out-going tide, but the friend managed to reach safety. Lucy had been in the water about 30 to 40 minutes by that time – an hour before a missing person report was launched.
Mr Smith said: ‘At 15 years, Lucy should have been safe and old enough to keep safe.’
Pictured: Cleethorpes Beach
The senior coroner said The Coastguard and Beach Safety staff had received a total of 22 Missing Person Alerts within the same time in which Lucy was missing.
Humberside Police had a similar volume of reports of missing people.
‘An earlier search would not have lessened any delay,’ said Mr Smith.
He added: ‘Her death resulted due to getting out of her depth and being taken deeper by the tide and she was unable to get back to dry land. She was in distress and as a result she aspirated. Her death was due to misadventure.’
The senior coroner thanked The Coastguard for the quality and clarity of their evidence in reports and statements.
To Lucy’s mother, he said he could not imagine how the past two years since the tragedy had been for her and her family.
‘After many years in my role, the fact never leaves me that there is nothing that I say will take away the heartache you go through. The best I can do is offer a wish that time gives you some relief.’
After the hearing, a spokesman for The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: ‘Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the tragic events of 24 June 2023.
‘Incoming tides don’t just come in from out at sea – they can also sneak up behind you and cut off your exit route, leaving you stranded and in danger. By knowing when it’s high and low tide, you can make sure you’ll get back in plenty of time without putting yourself at risk.’
Around £1,000 was raised for the RNLI in memory of Lucy and her family and friends set up an appeal.
For guidance on staying safe by the coast, visit https://hmcoastguard.uk/safety-advice
