Shrewsbury man drowned in River Severn after £100 dare
A man died after being dared to swim across the River Severn for £100, an inquest heard.
Thomas Bebbington, 22, voluntarily lowered himself into the river after being dared to swim to the other side and back by two men.
The inquest heard Mr Bebbington had been on the Dana Steps in Shrewsbury with his friend Jack Jones when "two Liverpudlian men" made the bet. Mr Jones said: "Me and him used to be homeless on the streets for some months. We became best mates."
The inquest heard that Mr Bebbington, who was sleeping rough at the time, had taken drugs some time before going into the river.
Mr Jones said: "The two Liverpudlian men said to Tom, 'I will give you £100 to jump in this water and swim from this side to that one and back'.
"He went in and started swimming. I think it was after about five or six strokes I started shouting his name, but I couldn't get a response."
Mr Jones immediately called the police.
The incident happened on November 10, and following intensive searches his body was later found on December 6 at Leighton Hall, near Shrewsbury.
Sergeant Richard Coles, of West Mercia Police, told the inquest at Shrewsbury's Shirehall that he was called to the Severn when Mr Bebbington's body was found.
He said:
"I was led to the river, which had flooded, and the body of a deceased male was lying in about a foot of water close to the river. It was evident that it had been in the river for some time."
Coroner John Ellery said he was satisfied there were no concerns over river safety following his death. He recorded a death of misadventure and said the medical cause behind Mr Bebbington's death was immersion into the river due to toxicity from methadone, heroin, cannabis and cocaine.
