An inquest has heard that two teenage boys drowned in the River Tyne in May 2024 after one attempted to rescue the other, who had fallen into the water from a rope swing. David Radut, 14, and Aras Rudzianskas, 13, were among a group of approximately 20 friends who had traveled to Ovingham, Northumberland, for the outing.
According to evidence presented at Northumberland Coroner's Court, David Radut, who could not swim, fell into the river after losing his grip on the rope swing. He called out for help, and Aras Rudzianskas entered the water in an attempt to bring him back to shore. During the struggle, David reportedly pushed Aras underwater in his panic, and both boys were pulled under.
Another child attempted to assist David by grabbing his arms but had to release their grip due to the risk of being pulled under themselves. This child managed to swim back to the riverbank. Assistant Coroner Paul Dunn noted that it was unclear if David or the current had grabbed the child's leg.
David Radut went underwater and was not seen again. Aras Rudzianskas was found face down in the water by paddleboarder Fiona Matthews, who was able to pull him onto her board and begin chest compressions. Paramedics continued resuscitation efforts, and Aras's heart began beating again, but he required support to breathe. He was transported by air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he died three days later.
David Radut's body was recovered from the riverbed later that evening. Northumbria Police requested that the tree branch with the rope swing be removed the following morning, but an unknown individual had already cut down the entire tree. Firefighters later removed the remaining swing apparatus.
Detective Sergeant Danielle Grant informed the court that initial police notifications to David's family were delayed because the descriptions of the two boys were similar, and they had no identification on them. The incident occurred less than half an hour after the group arrived at the river.
Coroner Dunn remarked on the tragic similarity to a previous case, noting that he had presided over the inquest of another 13-year-old boy, Robert Hattersley, who drowned in the same stretch of the River Tyne in 2022. The inquest into the deaths of David Radut and Aras Rudzianskas is ongoing.