Dorset: Son 'saw father struggle' on fatal coasteering trip

Coasteering involves climbing and swimming on a rocky coastline (generic image)

A teenager has described how his father struggled to swim on a commercially-run coasteering trip before he slipped off a ledge and drowned.

Iain Farrell, 49, of Dorney, Buckinghamshire, died near Swanage, Dorset, in May 2019.

Eight other participants, including his two sons, were rescued from the sea by a lifeboat, an inquest jury heard.

Sean Farrell, who was 15 at the time, said he "felt so helpless" watching his father struggle.

The electrician was taking part in the activity, which involves jumping, climbing and swimming, with his sons at Hedbury Quarry on 26 May.

Mr Farrell was coasteering with his two sons at Hedbury Quarry

In a written statement, the teenager, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, said his father, who was "not a strong swimmer", used to practice regularly in a pool, but would need to rest after one or two lengths.

Recalling the coasteering day, he said: "Daddy was at the back of the line and was lagging a bit. I asked him several times if he was OK because he really looked like he was struggling.

"He said he was fine and to leave him alone. I could hear him breathing heavily and he was paddling with his arms."

The teenager said Charles Ridley, an instructor with adventure firm Land & Wave, took his father back to the rocky coastline to get out.

The trip was organised by adventure activity firm Land & Wave

He continued: "[Daddy] tried to climb the rock face two or three times but slipped back into the water.

"Charles did manage to get Daddy on to a rock but the waves were crashing against a cliff and Daddy fell back in and was not responding."

The teenager said he could not watch any more and was rescued 45 minutes later by the RNLI.

His younger brother Oliver, who was 13 at the time, described rough conditions in his statement.

He said: "I was getting smashed in the face with sea water. I was cold and tired and didn't think I was going to hold on for much longer."

The inquest is being held before a jury at Bournemouth Civic Centre

Earlier, the court was told one of the participants may have saved the lives of his fellow swimmers.

Andrew Clark, a former Royal Navy serviceman, gave instructions and kept up morale while the group waited to be rescued, the jury heard.

Participant James Barker, who was with his children aged 10 and 12, said the group was left drifting in high waves while Mr Ridley pulled Mr Farrell out of the water and started resuscitation efforts.

Giving evidence, he said: "We were in survival mode. It was horrible.

"If Andrew, a former Royal Navy serviceman, wasn't with us we would have been in significant trouble and I'm not sure there would have been just one death.

"It was too rough to go in. I am embarrassed to say I let my daughter jump in that water. It was dangerous, very dangerous."

His partner Helen Brown broke down in court as she described how the group tried to distract Mr Farrell's sons from the ongoing CPR efforts.

She said: "We were trying to keep the children's backs to the rocks so they couldn't see what was happening.

"Andy [Mr Clark] was absolutely brilliant at trying to keep morale going, trying to play games and keep people pedalling under the water to keep warm"

The inquest at Bournemouth Civic Centre continues.