Tragic teen carried out to sea by current as he played with pals

Inquest told of bid to save Bradley, 13, who could not swim

A YOUNG teenager who could not swim got carried out to sea by a strong current while playing in the water with friends, an inquest heard.

A sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s was told a decision was taken to transport the boy to hospital by helicopter after he was taken from the water at Burrow Beach in Sutton when an ambulance was delayed by traffic.

Bradley Lulendo, 13, from Tyrrelstown, Dublin was pronounced dead at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street on July 11, 2022. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful after he was found unconscious in the water.

The inquest heard evidence the teenager had gone to the popular bathing spot with a group of friends.

In a written statement, one of his pals, Ephraim, outlined how they had all been “having fun, playing with water guns and playing in the water”.

He outlined how he had held out his arm to help his friend as he could not swim and he cried out for help when he felt both of them were starting to drown.

The witness recalled being grabbed by two people and being assisted ashore.

Although he thought his friend was next to him, he realised at that stage that the deceased was still in the water.

One witness, Ross Stephenson, said two out of a group of around 10 young African boys had gone out deeper in the water than their friends when one started “screaming frantically” while the other was calmer but still struggling in the water. Mr Stephenson said two people in a canoe rescued one of the swimmers, while he also witnessed a lifeguard who had entered the water struggling with the current.

The inquest heard lifeguards at Burrow Beach had officially finished their duty for the day when they were alerted by a group of boys that one of their friends had disappeared in the water shortly after 7pm.

A senior lifeguard, Eilish Mcgloin, said the search for the missing teen had lasted around 40 minutes before he was found in the water. Irish Coast Guard official Robin Blandford outlined how some crew had to leave their vehicle and walk up to 10 minutes to reach the beach because of traffic congestion.

A paramedic on board an Irish Coast Guard helicopter which landed at the beach, Alan Gallagher, said the crew had spotted something in the water around 15 metres from the beach and directed rescuers to the area.

The deputy clinical director of the National Ambulance Service, David Menzies, said the request for assistance for the teenager was the highest priority case at the time.

Dr Menzies acknowledged it was not ideal both the NAS and Dublin Fire Brigade provided ambulance services to cover the same geographical area.

Coroner Dr Clare Keane returned a verdict of accidental death.