Mexborough and Swinton Times January 6, 1940

Kilnhurst Drowning Tragedy

Boys Fall Into Pond

Desperate Rescue Attempts

One Life Saved, One Lost

Vain efforts by several persons including a woman and Edward Ashton, the former Barnsley and Sheffield United footballer, to rescue a boy who had fallen into a pond at Kilnhurst, were praised by the Sheffield and District Coroner, Mr. J. Kenyon Parker, at an inquest at Rotherham West Riding Courthouse, on Monday.

The Inquest was on Victor Clifford Swales, the eleven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Swales, of 28, Sylvia Road, Kiinhurst who was drowned on Saturday in a pond adjoining the steelworks of Messrs. Baker and Bessemer, at Kilnhurst.

Father Fetched From Work

Cyril Swales, miner, said the last time be saw his son alive was on Saturday about 5-30 when he left for work. He was fetched from the mine to the pond, but was not there when his son’s body was recovered. He was satisfied it was an accident.

The Coroner: It was with him being too venturesome, was that it?—Yes sir.

Mrs. Swales said her son went out between 9-30 and 9-45 a.m. and Just said he was going out to play. She had no idea that he was going on to the pond. Later, a woman told her about the accident.

Mrs. Janet Olive Smith, wife of Robert Smith, of 73, Springfield Road, Kilnhurst, said about 10-30 a.m. on Saturday she heard children shouting and saw they were playing at the pond adjoining the works of Baker and Bessemer, which was near to her house. Her own nine year-old boy was among them and she went out to call to them to come away.

As she got near, she saw Swales fall into the water. Anather boy named Godley fell in too, and he was got out by a boy called Harold Bentham. She saw Swales head about 30 yards away and he was struggling to get out. She knew the boy and she shouted to him to keep his head up. Witness told another boy to run to a house where there war a long rope. The rope was brought quickly. She was the only grown-up person there and she tried her best to throw the rope to the boy who was still struggling in the water. The rope did not quite reach the boy.

There were two men on the opposite side of the pond and they tried to reach the boy but got into difficulties. She kept shouting to the struggling boy so as to encourage him as she thought they might be able to rescue him. She tried her best to get Swales out but she could not do so. The boy went under after being in the water about a quarter of an hour. It was very cold. Later a raft was made and she saw a man named Ashton go up to the spot where the boy had gone in and he recovered the body.

Danger to Children

When the boy’s father was asked if he would like to ask Mrs. Smith any questions, Swales spoke of the danger of the pond to children. There was a public footpath at the side of the pond and there were no railings around the pond for protection.

The Coroner observed that one could not keep children off. Swales then said he had mentioned the danger because he was thinking about other children

Edward Ashton of 16, Spencer Street, Carlisle, former Sheffield United and Barnsley footballer, who was on a visit to his sister, Mrs A. Pond, of Birdwell Road, Kilnhurst, told the Coroner that he recovered the body.

A police constable said he was satisfied that it was an accident. There were no marks on the body.

The Coroner asked a police sergeant if Mess’s. Baker and Bessemer could do anything to prevent such fatalities happening. The officer said he thought they might put up a fence and this might prevent children from failing in.

The Coroner told the officer to see the management and to point out that there was danger and that the pond ought to be fenced to obviate further danger. “I have no doubt they will do something,” he added.

The boy’s father said the pond was fenced some time ago. There had been no other fatality there, to his knowledge, and he remembered when it was just a field.

Rescue Attempts Praised

“I am very sorry for you and your wife,” the Coroner said, addressing the boy’s father. “Of course it was a rash thing to do, but you can’t help boys doing that. I can only say it was an ‘ accident and express my sincere sympathy to you.”

In recording his verdict of “Accidental Death.’ the Coroner stated that death was due to drowning.

“I would like to praise this lady” (Mrs. Smith) the Coroner went on “for what she did to try and help the boy to get out, and also Mr. Ashton. I think everything that could be done at the time was done. Unfortunately, there was no I grown-up near who might have reached the boy with the rope. You both did your best.

H. Bentham (left) who rescued G. Godley (right) , when the latter fell into the pond with Clifford Swales, the boy who lost his life.