A 14-YEAR-OLD girl died after getting into difficulty while playing with friends in a pond, a coroner has said.
Lucy Smith passed away in a tragic incident in water belonging to Carrbrook Angling Club just off Crowswood Drive on Monday, August 15.
And at the first hearing of her inquest, senior police coroner’s officer Rita Wilkinson spelled out what they believe the circumstances were.
She told Manchester South Coroners Court: “Lucy had been playing with friends in the pond by a local angling club when she got into difficulty and became submerged.
“A search was carried out and she was recovered some hours later by underwater search teams.”
Lucy’s death sparked an emotional response, with dozens of tributes left at the scene by friends and family.
Emergency services – police, fire, ambulance and air ambulance – rushed to the area on the evening of the tragedy.
However, a body was recovered from the water later that night, to devastating scenes for family and friends, many of whom were stood nearby.
At the time, Detective Inspector Steven Horton, of Tameside CID, said: “The events are nothing short of devastating and my thoughts are with the friends and family of the young girl who lost her life in such awful circumstances.
“We are doing all we can to support the girl’s family at this incredibly difficult time, and we are focused on ensuring they get the answers they deserve as to how this tragedy occurred.
“From our enquiries so far, we are confident that there are no suspicious circumstances and that this is such a sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water, whatever the weather.”
A post-mortem examination has been carried out on the body but had not yet been concluded by the first hearing on Tuesday, September 6.
Assistant coroner Adrian Farrow adjourned the inquest until February 17, with a further hearing scheduled for December 19 to ensure all evidence is in place.