Family of Yorkshire schoolboy who drowned while swimming in lagoon on holiday in France launch legal action

Hull schoolboy Jake Taylor got into trouble swimming in a lagoon at La Croix du Vieux Pont campsite at Berny Riviere, near Paris, on August 22 last year.

Jake had been holidaying with Hannah and Lance Taylor, and four brothers, Connor, 13, George, nine, Dexter, four and Arry, one, when the tragedy struck.

A subsequent post-mortem found Jake had died as a result of drowning, and while French authorities found there was no case for any criminal proceedings, the family have sought legal action to find out more about how he died.

The family are concerned that parts of the lagoon may have been deeper than the 1.8m signposted, and that the water was becoming too busy with swimmers and inflatables meaning staff at the site were not as prepared to react to emergencies.

Solicitor Paul McClorry, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: “The situation at present is that Jake’s family still don’t know what caused Jake to get into trouble in what should have been a safe environment, and how nobody was able to act quickly enough to save him,” said Mr McClorry.

“This has never been about seeing someone face criminal proceedings for Jake’s family, it is about getting full and complete answers as to what happened and why.

“Many holidaymakers who have visited the site have raised concerns also about the depth of the lagoon in certain areas, both people who were there at the same time as Jake’s family and people who had visited previously."

Mr McClorry said the firm had now instructed French lawyers to review the findings of the police investigation, which concluded that an onsite lifeguard pulled Jake from the water, not other holidaymakers as some eye-witnesses claim.

A full inquest into Jake's death is still to be held in the UK, although unfortunately coroners will not have jurisdiction to call on French witnesses and officials to travel over and give evidence in court.

“Ultimately, as Jake’s family’s legal representatives, we want to ensure they have full answers as to what happened," Mr McClorry added.

“They need those answers, and we all feel they are imperative to ensuring lessons are learned and that, if required, suitable changes are made to prevent another young life being tragically lost."

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson (Editor)