A 13-year-old schoolboy named Delvin Tinashe Musakwa tragically drowned shortly after entering the Exeter Canal with friends on May 5, 2025. The incident occurred at Clapperbrook Bridge, where Delvin jumped into the water following a friend’s lead. Despite efforts from the public to rescue him, Delvin’s body was recovered from the canal approximately 25 minutes later, and he was pronounced dead at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Delvin, a student at Isca Academy in Exeter and a passionate football player associated with Heavitree Youth FC, was described by his mother, Cecelia Chipiri, as a responsible and sports-loving young man. Although he had swimming lessons as a child, Delvin was not a confident swimmer but understood his limitations in the water.

On the day of the incident, Delvin and his friends had been playing football before deciding to go for a swim at Double Locks due to the hot weather. Witnesses reported that Delvin’s friend jumped into the water first and safely returned to the surface, but when Delvin followed, he failed to resurface immediately. Despite the efforts of bystanders, including Katie Finch who attempted a search underwater, Delvin could not be saved.

Neil Baker, another witness, mentioned that he dove into the deep and cold water to assist but faced poor visibility challenges. The fire service arrived and provided support in the search efforts, although they did not directly enter the water as per protocol. The incident drew a response from various emergency services, including police, ambulance, fire crews, and the air ambulance.

The forensic pathologist, Dr. Deborah Cook, determined that Delvin’s cause of death was drowning. She suggested that Delvin may have experienced cold water shock, leading to involuntary gasping and subsequent drowning. The senior coroner, Philip Spinney, commended the public for their brave efforts and concluded that Delvin’s death was accidental, likely due to cold water shock upon entering the canal.