Mum to install life station near where son drowned

Cory Chilvers was described as a "kind, loving, funny and thoughtful man" by his family

A lifesaving campaigner has been granted permission to install warning signs and buoyancy aids on a riverbank close to the spot where her 18-year-old son lost his life.

Cory Chilvers, from Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, drowned when his kayak capsized in the Middle Level Main Drain waterway at Wiggenhall St Germans in July 2024.

Coroner Samantha Goward concluded that his death was an accident at a hearing on Wednesday.

Mr Chilvers' mother, Claire Wadham, told the inquest: "There's no warning signs and there's no life aids. If they were available the outcome could have been significantly different."

Cory Chilvers' fiancée, who was not named in court because of her age, said he had been both excited and nervous because he had never used the kayak before.

Emergency service workers searched the Middle Level Main Drain at Wiggenhall St Germans for three days before his body was found

She said he went out for an initial trial and returned to call his mother from the riverbank as he wanted her to see.

"He began to kayak up the river towards the pumping station," she told the inquest.

"I walked on the bank.

"All over a sudden I saw the kayak capsize and Cory had disappeared under the water. He was under the water for five to 10 seconds."

"I started to shout at Cory asking him what he was doing. He did not answer. Then he shouted for help twice. He didn't look like he was struggling."

But he went beneath the surface and she could not see him or any bubbles.

Specialist teams, including Met Police divers, searched the Fenland waterway for three days

The inquest heard how Ms Wadham's husband went into the water, attached to another person via a safety line, to begin a search before the emergency services arrived.

Specialist divers and emergency crews spent three days searching for the teenager. His inflatable kayak was recovered on the day he disappeared.

The inquest heard the teenager was not wearing a life jacket.

Ms Wadham, who has set up a charity to provide signage and life aids, said there was no deterrent on the riverbank to prevent people entering the water.

"Where it happened, there's children go in all the time," she told the hearing.

"It's a summer spot. They won't stop children going in.

"There's only signs for no fishing and no parking."

'Warning signs'

Ms Wadham said she found out who owned the land and on Tuesday was given permission to install signs.

"I spoke to the Ely Drainage Board in 2023, and they were warned then, and the Middle Level Drain Commissioners, to put up warnings signs and they didn't do that," she said.

"Yesterday I got an email from them saying I had permission to put the lifesaving station up."

In a statement to the BBC, Paul Burrows, chief executive of the Middle Level Commissioners, said he was proud of how his team supported and advised the emergency services, receiving a letter of commendation from Norfolk Constabulary.

"My heart goes out to the family and friends and we are actively working with Ms Wadham to host a life station and a memorial bench in the vicinity of where the accident occurred," he said.

"I am not aware of any warning being received by us from the Environment Agency in 2023.

"There are significant lengths of public rights of way along the Middle Level Main Drain and our system covers 190km fenland waterways that are generally accessible if people choose to risk entering the water."