Cameron Sandell died while canoeing in the River Medway

by Angela Cole

A teenage canoeist’s death in the River Medway at Teston last year was a tragic accident, a coroner has ruled today.

Cameron Sandell, 14, was trying out a new canoe with his friend, Liam Hannigan, in April last year when it capsized - sending the vessel into the swirling sluice waters.

Frantic dog-walkers, other canoeists and boat-owners all joined in the rescue attempts before emergency services arrived.

But Cameron - a Mascalls School pupil from Yalding - could not be saved at Teston Lock, near Maidstone.

The spot where Cameron Sandell drowned in the River Medway

Paramedics spent more than an hour trying to resuscitate him after he was pulled from the water, as it was hoped that his age and the cool temperature of the water, he could be revived even though he had been under the water for some time.

Ruling that his death was accidental, Mid Kent and Medway coroner Patricia Harding said she was satisfied steps were being taken to try and prevent similar incidents there, as the Enviroment Agency will be putting up extra warning signs.

Sue and Peter Sandell, the parents of Cameron Sandell

Speaking after the hearing, Cameron's parents Susan and Peter Sandell said: "It was the verdict that we thought it would be. What else can you say when you have lost your son?

"It was just a tragic accident. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Adventurous Cameron had taken up canoeing at the age of 11 and had passed his two star assessment with the British Canoe Union.

He had planned to go into the RAF when he left school.