Group had been given warning over rowdy behaviour

An inquest yesterday into the death of Kaimen Ward at Hambleton Leisure Centre, Northallerton, was told by a witness that Abigail Lawson, 16, who had taken Kaimen and his twin sister Hope-Ella swimming with two friends Jade Green, 15 and Andrew I’Anson, 16, had been drinking and could not walk straight at the pool.

Sarah Dodsworth, 14, who bumped into the group at the pool, said: “She was a bit wobbly. I think she had been drinking, she couldn’t walk straight and had been shouting all the time. I asked her if she had been drinking and she said yes.”

Miss Green told the inquest at Northallerton’s County Hall that she had drunk a small glass of Lambrini white wine at the home of Kaimen’s mother Caroline Ward, who was described as a depressive alcoholic, on the morning of the tragedy.

Miss Lawson yesterday insisted she had not drunk anything that day.

Kaimen’s mother, who has a phobia of water after nearly drowning as a child, told the inquest that as the group headed off swimming, she shouted out: “Just look after them”.

He was discovered later drowned at the bottom of a shallow part of the pool.

Kaimen was described as a non-swimmer despite taking lessons before the accident last August. His swimming teacher Rachel Dandy told the inquest: “I needed to be sure where he was. I was always fearful that he was fearless.”

The court was told Kaimen became separated from the group and was probably under the water for several minutes before he was spotted by Mr I’Anson as he stood at the top of a slide.

Originally they thought it was somebody trying to hold their breath, but when the figure didn’t move, the alarm was raised.

The hearing was also told four lifeguards were on duty at the time, although none of them spotted Kaimen underwater.

The inquest continues.