A MUCH-loved young footballer tragically died after jumping from a bridge into a river as temperatures soared last year.

An inquest into the death of 13-year-old Tomi Obi Solomon, who was a Bradford City Academy player, was held at Bradford Coroners' Court yesterday.

He was pulled from the River Calder at Huntington Road, Brighouse, on June 1 and the inquest heard it is a popular place for young people to gather when the weather is warm.

Tomi's parents, Mbamu Solomon and Frida Ndabue, spoke of their anger at a lack of warning signs and Senior Coroner Martin Fleming is to write to the bridge's owner to address these concerns. 

Around 25-30 people were there on the afternoon of Tomi's death, the inquest was told, with a number jumping from the bridge into the water.

Tomi was among those who joined in, but came into difficulty and was struggling. 

One witness said the youngster was panicking and waving his arms around.
Another witness said was "immediately clear he was struggling" and that he was going up and down in the water. 

"Everyone was screaming, panicking and crying," she said.

Some of the young people desperately tried to help him and one boy was being pulled under the water himself as he tried to assist Tomi. 

The alarm was raised with the emergency services, with paramedics, firefighters, police and the police helicopter scrambled to the scene to help.

After a 93-minute search, Tomi was recovered from the water at 4.15pm and was tragically pronounced dead.

Giving evidence, DS Graham Bennett said Tomi had no visible injuries and there was no indication he had been trapped by any objects in the water.

There was also no evidence to suggest he was pushed or coerced in any way, DS Bennett said, and added that it was his impression that he'd gone along with what other youngsters had been doing. 

A report from the Canal and River Trust, which the inquest heard does not have direct responsibility for the bridge, confirmed there are no warning signs at the scene and DS Bennett agreed when asked by Mr Fleming: "It's my view that people need to be discouraged about jumping from this bridge, would you agree with that officer?"

Mr Solomon, who said his son was able to swim, told the inquest: "We believe that location is a very, very risky location."

He added that he and his family want to ensure this does not happen to anyone else in the future. 

His wife added: "I'm very sad, very broken that my child is gone," she said and added that she knew "for sure" that if Tomi had seen warning signs, he would not have jumped from the bridge.

She said she believed "negligence" had taken her child.

Recording his conclusion, Mr Fleming confirmed Tomi died as a result of drowning. 

"Without any question I’ve heard Tomi was a much-loved son whose unexpected death has devastated the family," he said.

"He was loved by his family, he was focused and determined in all he did. He excelled at football, was popular with his school, it’s absolutely no wonder it has devastated family and all who had the privilege of knowing him."

He said Tomi had gone to the bridge with others at around 2.10pm on June 1 and said it was "something of an attraction at a time of warm weather”.

"As we’ve heard, there was also a practice of jumping from the bridge," said Mr Fleming.

He said Tomi was seen to remove some of his clothing before jumping from the bridge and jumped in after another young person.

It was believed to be his first visit to the bridge and statements from other young people said it was clear that on entering the water, he was struggling.

Other children tried to help him and swam back to him in a "desperate attempt to get him out".

Emergency services were called and a huge search was carried out, but Tomi was tragically pronounced dead when his body was pulled from the water.

Mr Fleming highlighted that DS Bennett had excluded third-party involvement and said there was no evidence to suggest he had been coerced or forced.

He said he found himself overcome and ruled Tomi died as a result of misadventure.

Mr Fleming said that given the bridge's popularity, he is proposing to write to the owners of the bridge, thought to be Calderdale Council, and the Canal an River Trust,  to give consideration to the issue of signage. 

Addressing Tomi's parents, he said: "To lose your beloved son under these tragic circumstances is so very, very hard for you and your family to have to bear."

Mr Solomon told the inquest that his son was a "young boy that enjoyed life" and loved football and school.

"We’ll remember Tomi as a family, as someone who at all moments would always strive to put a smile on our faces," he said.