Inquest into death of Mackenzie Swift who died in the River Don opens
An inquest has been opened for Mackenzie Swift who died after getting into difficulty in the River Don near Mexborough during the recent heatwave.
The alarm was raised on May 30 when 11-year-old Mackenzie did not emerge from the water, prompting a 48-hour search.
Mackenzie’s body was recovered on June 2, taking the number of open-water deaths during the heatwave to 17 including 16-year-old Muhammed Secka who died at Rother Valley Country Park.
An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on Thursday.
Louise Slater, the area coroner, heard that on May 30, emergency services were alerted to a report of a child in difficulty in the water.
The hearing was told Mackenzie’s body could be released to his family for the funeral, and a final inquest into his death would take place on February 16 next year.