Police CSOs 'did nothing' while 10-year-old drowned

Police chiefs have defended two community support officers who stood at the edge of a pond as a 10-year-old boy drowned in Wigan.

Jordon Lyon jumped into the water after his eight-year-old step-sister Bethany got into difficulties while swimming at a beauty spot in May.

Two fishermen spotted Bethany's arms wrapped around the neck of Jordon, who was holding her up with his head under the water. They jumped in and managed to save Bethany but Jordon became submerged.

The police community support officers (PCSOs) then arrived at the scene but did not attempt to rescue Jordon as they were not trained to deal with the incident, an inquest heard.

The boy's stepfather and a friend waded into the pond in a desperate search for him and were joined minutes later by a uniformed officer who stripped off his body armour and dived in to help them.

Jordon was eventually pulled from the water at John Taylor's Pit but despite attempts to resuscitate him was later pronounced dead in hospital.

His mother, Tracy Lyon, and stepfather Anthony Ganderton, of Bluebell Avenue, Wigan, want to know why the PCSOs did not try to rescue Jordon and why they did not give evidence at the inquest held by deputy West Manchester coroner Alan Walsh.

The inquest heard there had been initial confusion over the location of the pond with trained officers sent to the wrong place. When the PCSOs arrived there were no signs of the boy in the water.

In a statement after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Owen, of Wigan CID, said: "PCSOs are not trained to deal with major incidents such as this. It would have been inappropriate for PCSOs, who are not trained in water rescue, to enter the pond."

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

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