Teen died in lake tragedy after making fatal canoe mistake

Sonny Clark was one of three boys who fell into the freezing water

Three teenagers were forced to swim back to shore after the canoe they were in sank, an inquest has heard. Two of the boys made it back safely out of Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire but tragically, one remained unaccounted for.

A huge search was launched for Sonny Clark, 17, and he was found the following day before later being pronounced dead at hospital. An inquest has now heard that the lake was in near freezing conditions on Saturday, February 24.

The boys had decided to partake in wild camping and had taken Sonny's dad's canoe from the boathouse despite advice from his parents not to. Three entered the water on the canoe at around 8.50pm but got into trouble after Sonny - who had been sitting in the middle without a seat - stood up halfway across the lake.

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According to statements from the other two boys, they lost balance and water got inside boat making it sink. All three boys attempted to swim to shore in the 1C lake, but only two were successful, StokeonTrentLive reports.

The alarm was raised when Sonny couldn’t be seen and he was found the following day on February 25. He was pronounced dead after being taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital by paramedics.

The inquest heard Sonny was experienced in canoeing as he had been doing it since childhood with his dad. He attended Buxton and Leek College where he studied joinery and became close friends with two of the boys on the camping trip.

Coroner Philip Vollans concluded that Sonny's cause of death was drowning as a result of an accident. He said: "Between February 24 and 25, during a camping trip with friends, Sonny went onto Rudyard Lake in a canoe. During the activity the canoe became unbalanced and Sonny and his friends fell into the lake.

"Due to the cold temperature of the water and due to the clothing he was wearing at the time Sonny fell into the water and was located by the recovery team. Having heard the evidence I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the medical cause of death is one of drowning. My short form conclusion is one of accidental death."

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