Tragedy as boy, 10, dies in rope swing accident while playing with friends as devastated mother pays tribute
- Riain Brennan-Byrne became entangled while playing in a Leicestershire wood
- The Irish lad had been visiting his mother for the summer holidays when he died
A devastated mother has told of her heartbreak after her young son died in a tragic rope swing accident while playing with friends.
Riain Brennan-Byrne, 10, from Wicklow, Ireland, had been visiting Leicestershire for his summer holidays when he died on August 7, last year.
An inquest heard how the schoolboy had been playing in Holly Hayes Wood in Whitwick, near Coalville, when he became entangled in the swing, that was hanging from a tree branch with a blue cord.
The youngster was found by his friends who immediately ran for help. But despite valiant efforts to revive Riain, the 10-year-old was pronounced dead in hospital an hour later, reports Leicestershire Live.
At an inquest into his death, Riain’s mother Niamh said she had been left heartbroken by his loss, saying it had ‘left a huge void in our lives’.
Riain Brennan-Byrne, 10, from Wicklow, Ireland, had travelled to Leicestershire to stay with his mother during the summer holidays when he died.
The schoolboy was playing with his friends in Holly Hayes Wood in Whitwick, near Coalville, when he became entangled in the swing
‘I am here with a broken heart. The loss of my son is nothing I could have prepared for,’ she told the hearing at Leicester Town Hall.
‘He was always my king and was loved by his brothers and step-sister. They miss him so much.
‘He has left a huge void in our lives. He will always be with us and I will always be his mother.’
The inquest heard how Riain, who lives with his father Derek in Ireland, had travelled to Coalville to stay with his mother during the summer break.
The schoolboy was discovered at about 7pm and brought down by his friends’ parents, with CPR being performed by a number of people.
Paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) were also called to the scene and found the lad had suffered a compression to the neck and was unresponsive.
He was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary but was pronounced dead at 8.06pm.
His pals found Riain tangled in the rope swing and rushed to get help. But tragically, despite efforts to revive him, the 10-year-old was pronounced dead in hospital an hour later
Coroner Ivan Cartwright ruled the death an accident – and said Riain had died of a ligature around the neck.
He said: ‘These were the kind of swings many of us will have played with as children I am sure.
‘The only conclusion I can find is accidental death. This was a tragic accident.
‘I pass on my very, very sincere condolences to you all. I am so sorry for your loss.’
Bereaved parents in need of support can contact charity AtaLoss by visiting its website, here.
