A 13-year-old boy, Delvin Tinashe Musakwa, tragically drowned shortly after plunging into the Exeter Canal. The incident occurred on May 5, 2025, when Delvin went swimming with friends at Clapperbrook Bridge. Despite his friend safely returning to the shore after jumping into the water, Delvin did not resurface, leading to a frantic rescue attempt by members of the public.
After approximately 25 minutes, Delvin’s body was retrieved from the canal, and he was pronounced dead at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. Delvin’s mother, Cecelia Chipiri, described him as a sports enthusiast and a responsible student at Isca Academy in Exeter. Although he had some swimming experience from childhood lessons, Cecelia mentioned that Delvin was not a confident swimmer but always understood his swimming limits.
On the day of the tragedy, Delvin and his friends had been playing football before deciding to go swimming at Double Locks due to the hot weather. Witnesses recounted that Delvin’s friend initially jumped into the water, followed by Delvin, who unfortunately struggled to resurface. Several individuals, including bystanders and emergency responders, made courageous efforts to locate and rescue Delvin.
A Home Office forensic pathologist determined that Delvin’s cause of death was drowning. The pathologist explained that Delvin was healthy and did not have any pre-existing conditions that would have hindered his ability to swim or prevent him from surfacing. It was suggested that Delvin might have experienced cold water shock upon entering the canal, leading to a reflex action causing him to drown.
Senior Coroner Philip Spinney commended the public for their brave and selfless actions in attempting to save Delvin. The coroner concluded that Delvin’s death was accidental, likely a result of cold water shock following his entry into the canal.