Christopher Kapessa: Friends knew boy couldn't swim - inquest

Friends of Christopher Kapessa told the inquest they were aware he could not swim

Friends of a boy who drowned in a river were aware that he could not swim, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Kapessa, 13, died after the incident in the River Cynon near Fernhill, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in 2019.

Witnesses told the inquest it was clear Christopher was unsure about jumping into the water near Mountain Ash.

One, aged 17, told South Wales Central Coroner's Court in Pontypridd that he said to Christopher: "If you don't want to do it, you don't have to".

Asked what he knew about Christopher's ability to swim, he said: "I knew he couldn't swim, he used to joke around a lot but I knew he couldn't swim."

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The court has heard from a number of teenagers who were at the scene, with some saying they were unsure whether Christopher could swim, and others saying they saw Christopher get pushed into the water.

The 17-year-old witness said he clearly saw Christopher get pushed, telling the court he saw "Chris go into the water by force."

He said he remembered seeing Christopher in the water: "He started panicking, slapping the water, going wild, you could see he was panicking."

The court heard after the incident the teen swore at the boy who allegedly pushed Christopher.

Barristers representing the alleged pusher have told the court that the teenager stumbled and fell into Christopher.

A statement read to the court from another witness Chloe Eggleton, 18, said she also knew Christopher couldn't swim and described the scene when he entered the water.

"They were screaming and Chris was in the water and he was like going under. And they were all screaming 'Chris, swim'," she said.

"But loads or people jumped in for him but Christopher was dragging everyone down."

Another 17-year-old told the court that Christopher had told friends the previous day he could not swim when some of the group made their first visit to the river.

The inquest is expected to last until the end of next week.