A 17-year-old student drowned during a day out with friends when he got into difficulty swimming in a lake, an inquest has been told. Ashamekh Bortata, from Liverpool, was found the day after he began to struggle in the water at Chirk Castle, near Wrexham.
Bortata and six friends had traveled to Chirk by train, with plans to continue to Llangollen. Upon realizing travel to Llangollen would be difficult, they decided to visit the castle. After touring the castle, they discovered a fenced-off woodland area with a lake.
Some members of the group swam to a boat, while Bortata, who had initially remained on a pontoon, jumped into the water. He attempted to swim to the boat but began calling for help. One of his friends contacted emergency services, reporting that his friend was drowning and that he had been unable to help him maintain his grip.
Police and an air search team were dispatched. A member of an underwater search team recovered Bortata's body the following day. The inquest heard that Bortata, who was born in Libya, was an A-level student at Liverpool Life Sciences University Technical College. His father, Soulaiman Bortata, described him as an "excellent and popular" student with ambitions to study engineering at University College London. He was also noted for his talent in mathematics and sciences, his interest in fitness, and his enjoyment of cooking for his family.
The coroner for north Wales east and central, John Gittins, recorded the cause of death as drowning and concluded it was misadventure. "I am conscious he is a young man who is very much missed by all who loved him," Gittins stated.