The cause of death of an “energetic” teenager who died on a school trip after going into the sea could not be ascertained, an inquest heard. Samuel Oluwatosin Oluwagbenga died after getting into the water at West Wittering on July 2. Teachers realised he was missing.
The 17-year-old Uxbridge College student was later airlifted to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester by the coastguard. The inquest opening, held in Horsham today, heard he was pronounced dead in hospital. A post-mortem examination at Brighton mortuary was unable to ascertain the cause of death, the court heard.
Coroner Gareth Jones adjourned the inquest until September. “Due to the circumstances of his death being unknown, there will have to be an inquest,” he said. Samuel, who was born in Nigeria, was visiting the beach with around 50 other students from Uxbridge College.
Dylan McTaggart, principal at Uxbridge College, described the incident as a “tragic accident” . “This was a tragic accident that has had a huge impact on everyone here,” he said. “Our priority now is to look after all those affected.
“We have enlisted the help of qualified counsellors and will make sure that over the next days and weeks we have staff and professional support available to our community. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we ask that you respect their privacy as they grieve the loss of a child.” A statement on behalf of Samuel’s family on a crowdfunding page described him as an energetic.