York river tragedy inquest: Friend told Tyler to get in water then failed to help police - Parents tell of heartache

Tyler Pearson, 18, died while trying to swim from King's Staith to Queen's Staith, near Ouse Bridge, in April 2014, just two weeks after arriving at Imphal Barracks to serve with the 2 Signals Regiment.

Members of the public rang 999 but PC Neil Slater, one of the first police officers on the scene, told yesterday's inquest hearing that Signaller Pearson's fellow soldiers failed to grasp the severity of the situation.

Police searched the Ouse for two weeks before Tyler Pearson's body was found

PC Slater said one of the friends, John Paul Hunter, was "one of the most obstructive people I have come across for quite a while" and refused to tell police where his friend had last been spotted.

He said a third soldier, Lance Corporal Christopher Townsend, who they spoken to shortly after Hunter, had been drunk but more cooperative.

“We were desperately trying to get Tyler Pearson’s last known location,” PC Slater added.

Coroner Jonathan Leach read out a transcript of the audio from mobile phone footage, in which Lance Corporal Hunter told Tyler to “get in the water”. Witnesses said he and Lance Corporal Townsend, were laughing and joking while their friend was in the water.

The witnesses had spotted the unfolding drama from the roadside, and said the two Lance Corporals did not seem to realise how serious the danger was. 

Police during the search last April

The coroner asked Lance Corporal Hunter: "Is it fair to say you let him down?"

The soldier replied: "Definitely, sir, yes."

He said he thought his friend had got out of the water and run away, and did not want to risk getting him in trouble, he added.

He and Lance Corporal Townsend, who had both been in York much longer than Tyler's two weeks, said they had been drinking heavily before the incident. They had discussed another soldier who had jumped into the river previously, which is where the idea came from.

Lance Corporal Hunter said: "I did not think he would jump in; he never handed me his phone or wallet or anything."

Megan Roberts, left, and Ben Clarkson, right, who died in the Ouse and Foss respectively

Tyler's death came just weeks after those of Megan Roberts and Ben Clarkson.

Tyler's father Steve Pearson has spoken out publicly about water safety since his son's death. He questioned Lance Corporal Townsend during the inquest, and said he did not attribute blame, but said: "You were in York when Megan and Ben went into the water, and you saw the press. I can't believe you didn't try to stop him."

Mr Leach read statements from both Mr Pearson and Tyler's mother Tina, paying tribute to their son.

Mrs Pearson said: "Tyler loved life. He was always smiling and laughing and was often the life and soul of the party. We have some wonderful memories of Tyler as a family.

"He was a one-off to his family, and I am sure his friends will agree. Life will never be the same without him."

Mr Pearson added: "To say that I and Tyler's mother are devastated is an understatement. We are shocked and heartbroken. It's hard to accept he will not be coming home again. Tyler will be greatly missed."

Signaller Pearson had been at Imphal Barracks for only two weeks

Captain Thomas Harrison, the adjutant of the 2 Signals regiment, told the coroner lessons had been learnt since Tyler's death. He said river safety was now included in an induction briefing given to all new soldiers at Imphal Barracks, regardless of rank.

He added: "Since we were directly affected it has really hit home. The soldiers really understand the dangers of the rivers in York. This will live on, it's in our blood."

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Mr Leach heard evidence from the police called to the scene, Tyler's friends, and passers-by who called the police, before recording a conclusion of death by accident.

Mr Leach said he had presided over three inquests into the deaths of young people in early 2014 - each of which had involved heavy drinking and the freezing and dangerous waters of York's rivers.

He said all three had been a "tragic waste of life", but many people did not realise the dangers of the rivers which can be cold, with extremely strong currents and hidden objects below the surface.

PC Slater said his team of officers had been involved in the searches for Megan Roberts and Ben Clarkson, both of whom died in York's rivers earlier in the three months before Tyler's death.

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YORK'S river safety campaigns were stepped up in 2014, following a series of tragedies in the Ouse and Foss.

Megan Roberts, 20, died after a night out with friends in January that year, and Ben Clarkson, 22, died in March.

Following the deaths, The Press relaunched its river safety campaign, which had initially been prompted by the death of barman Richard Horrocks in 2011.

Other organisations including City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police, and North Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, have also stepped up efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of going into the rivers.

Works are also being carried out alongside the Ouse and Foss, following a report that identified riverside hazards and said York's rivers were harder to get out of than most for people who had fallen in.