Girl drowned after playing with friends in river - coroner

Holli Smallman was playing with friends near the River Severn, Welshpool, when she slipped

A 15-year-old girl died from accidental drowning after playing in the River Severn with friends, a coroner said.

Holli Smallman, from Welshpool, Powys, was pronounced dead by emergency services on 9 August, 2024, after a search of the river.

Coroner Kerrie Burge said Holli had slipped close to a weir, and despite her friends trying to grab hold of her, she fell.

Her family have warned children and parents of the dangers of being near or playing in open water.

The coroner said Holli's friends tried to find her, and her body was discovered three hours later.

The inquest was told Holli and her friends were socialising on the banks of the river, but it had shallow and deeper areas and the water moved faster near the weir.

The coroner concluded: "Despite the best efforts of her friends to grab hold of her and to find her, Holli could not be located and did not resurface.

"Emergency services were called and Holli was found more than three hours later.

"On the balance of probabilities, Holli died as a result of accidental drowning. "

In a statement issued by police last August the family paid tribute to Holli, a Welshpool High School pupil and army cadet.

They said: "The support and compassion shown to us from the community, we extend to them in this unimaginable time, and they are all in our thoughts."

They added that "the dangers of water have been brought home in a way that no one can imagine" and pleaded with people to take the utmost care.