Jonathan Adebanjo
PFD Report
Historic (No Identified Response)
Ref: 2019-0399
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
Swimming prohibition signs are too small and lack detail regarding specific dangers like poor visibility, undercurrents, and submerged debris.
View full coroner's concerns
Evidence was given by the police at the Inquest that:
1. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is responsible for the area.
2. Although swimming is actually prohibited at the location, people do swim there in hot weather.
3. The water in Shadwell Basin is murky with poor visibility underwater with rubbish and discarded items below the surface.
4. There is an undercurrent at the Basin.
5. The area where the deceased was swimming was not covered by CCTV.
6. The fixed signs which indicate that swimming is prohibited are fairly small and can be missed if the area is busy.
I am concerned that:
(a) The signs indicating that swimming is prohibited at the location should be larger and more obvious;
(b) The content of the signs should indicate the reason why swimming is dangerous, namely the poor visibility, the presence of the undercurrent and the presence of rubbish and discarded items below the surface.
1. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is responsible for the area.
2. Although swimming is actually prohibited at the location, people do swim there in hot weather.
3. The water in Shadwell Basin is murky with poor visibility underwater with rubbish and discarded items below the surface.
4. There is an undercurrent at the Basin.
5. The area where the deceased was swimming was not covered by CCTV.
6. The fixed signs which indicate that swimming is prohibited are fairly small and can be missed if the area is busy.
I am concerned that:
(a) The signs indicating that swimming is prohibited at the location should be larger and more obvious;
(b) The content of the signs should indicate the reason why swimming is dangerous, namely the poor visibility, the presence of the undercurrent and the presence of rubbish and discarded items below the surface.
Sent To
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Response Status
Linked responses
0 of 1
56-Day Deadline
22 Feb 2020
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On the 30th July, 2019 an investigation was opened by Assistant Coroner Bourke into the death of Jonathan Jesutofumi Adebanjo who died aged 23, on the 24th July, 2019 at Shadwell Basin, London, E1.
The investigation progressed to an inquest which I conducted on the 20th November, 2019. I made a determination at the conclusion of the inquest that the deceased had drowned as a result of an accident whilst swimming in Shadwell Basin.
The investigation progressed to an inquest which I conducted on the 20th November, 2019. I made a determination at the conclusion of the inquest that the deceased had drowned as a result of an accident whilst swimming in Shadwell Basin.
Circumstances of the Death
1. On the 23rd July, 2019 at about 5.45pm, the deceased used a ladder to descend into the water at Shadwell Basin in order to swim.
2. After a short while he sank below the water line and drowned.
3. His body was not found until the morning of the 24th July, 2019.
4. The deceased was not local to the area and the day he died was the first time he and his friends had visited the area.
2. After a short while he sank below the water line and drowned.
3. His body was not found until the morning of the 24th July, 2019.
4. The deceased was not local to the area and the day he died was the first time he and his friends had visited the area.
Copies Sent To
[address withheld]
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.