Inquest into death of boy, 11, in river opens

An inquest into the death of an 11-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in a river has been opened.

Mackenzie Swift went missing in the River Don in Mexborough on 30 May, and his body was recovered on 2 June.

He was the 17th person to die in open water during the heatwave that included the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Doncaster Coroner's Court heard that the cause of Mackenzie's death was yet to be confirmed but a postmortem noted "features in keeping with drowning".

Area coroner Louise Slater was told that on 30 May, emergency services were alerted to a report of a child in difficulty in the water.

Coroner's officer Siobhan Golightly said: "It was reported that the child had entered the water.

"Upon arrival the emergency services launched an extensive search and rescue operation.

"Sadly, on 2 June the body of Mackenzie Swift was located and recovered."

The coroner heard Mackenzie, a pupil at Highwoods Academy in Mexborough, was formally identified by his father.

The hearing was told that Mackenzie's body could be released to his family for the funeral, and a final inquest into his death would take place on 16 February next year.

Slater said: "I would like to wish my most heartfelt condolences to Mackenzie's family at this most difficult time."

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