A CORONER has ruled that action must be taken to improve safety after a student’s body was pulled from a canal in a UK city centre.
William Webb, 21, was reported missing by his mum when he failed to return home following an evening of drinking on November 22 last year.
The young student was last seen by friends outside Rosies nightclub in Chester city centre in the small hours of November 23.
Cheshire Police issued a public appeal for information in a bid to locate him.
Following an extensive search his body was tragically recovered from the Shropshire Union canal in Chester the following day.
At Warrington Coroner’s Court on February 20, Cheshire coroner Victoria Davies returned a conclusion that the death was accidental
It was ruled that William likely fell into the water in the early hours of the morning while making his way home.
The University of Chester student was seen on CCTV footage walking on a footpath alongside the water in the early hours of November 23, an inquest heard.
He would later “likely accidentally fall into the canal”, the court was told.
“Unfortunately, his efforts to self-rescue were unsuccessful, and William died by drowning”, the coroner said.
Davies went on to issue a prevention of future deaths report in the wake of the tragedy.
The report, addressed to the Canal and River Trust, said there was no safety equipment which could assist someone in the water.
It detailed that the distance between the water level and the ground edge would make it difficult for someone to get out of the canal unaided.
The coroner said there was also no signage nearby to warn people of the potential danger posed by the waterway.
Davies said: “The area in which Mr Webb fell into the canal is close to student accommodation.
“Whilst this is a generalisation… students as a group are within the demographic of people who will attend the bars, pubs and nightclubs of Chester and become inebriated to varying degrees.
“Once under the influence of alcohol – or perhaps another substance – it is then not inconceivable that they then take less care/are more willing to engage in risky behaviours.
“The canal is near to their accommodation, which makes it more likely that they will be in that area.
“In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.”
A statement from the Canal & River Trust said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of William Webb following his tragic death last November.
“Our charity will carefully consider and respond to the notice received from the coroner.
“Working alongside partners and building upon experience across the national canal network, water safety is, and always will be, a priority for the Trust.”
