River Severn canoe trip ended in drowning tragedy, inquest told
A canoeing trip ended in tragedy after a man became trapped by a tree which had been swept downstream in the River Severn, an inquest heard.
Said Benjida, 35 from Richmond Road, Nuneaton had gone in to the water on May 8 with pensioner John Trow aboard his canoe.
But an inquest at Shirehall, Shrewsbury heard that almost immediately the pair got into difficulties and were thrown out of the canoe after it hit a tree submerged in the water.
While Mr Trow was able to make his way to the riverbank at Hampton Loade, near Bridgnorth, Mr Benjida become trapped in the branches of the large tree and despite attempts to free him, he became stuck.
In evidence given to Mr John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Mr Trow, 67 said his friend had been hit by branches after the canoe got sucked in to a fast moving current.
"He was tipped out of the canoe which then careered down the river," said Mr Trow.
"Said clung to the tree and I was swept down river.
"We were both wearing life jackets. I thought he was holding onto the tree but he was stuck."
Mr Trow said a man appeared and threw a life buoy out to Mr Benjida and he managed to get it around his body.
"Said was still alive and was shouting for help," said Mr Trow.
"His head was above water and he was shouting."
The emergency services arrived and further efforts were made to pull Mr Benjida to the bank.
But despite four or five men pulling on the rope attached to the life buoy it became apparent Mr Benjida was stuck in the branches of the tree.
Pc Barnes from West Mercia Police was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene.
She said: "We had initially been told that a man needed help getting to the bank and that the water was ankle deep. When we arrived the situation was very different.
"Mr Benjida had a life buoy on but the cord was stuck in the tree and it was obvious that he was not able to move.
"At one point he shouted he was just trying to stay alive and then it just went quiet. The water was washing over him."
A Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service boat arrived and Mr Benjida was recovered from the water.
He was taken by Air Ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham where he died the next day.
Mr Ellery gave the cause of death as multiple organ failure due to drowning.
