大象传媒

Boy died cycling down hill in half-term - inquest

The coroner's court in PontypriddImage source, Google
Image caption,

The coroner's court in Pontypridd heard Rufus' father found him lying unconscious on his back

  • Published

A 12-year-old boy died after falling from his bike during half term, an inquest in Pontypridd has heard.

Rufus Pomeroy from Bristol had been cycling along a 鈥渟teep downhill鈥 section of remote hilly terrain near Hay-on-Wye, Powys, with his father.

The coroner was told that Rufus was riding ahead of his dad who had paused to close a gate behind them.

But when his father caught up with him, he saw his bike on the ground near a utility pole and Rufus lying unconscious on his back near a fence.

Emergency services who attended the 鈥渋solated location鈥 took Rufus to Hereford County Hospital where he later died.

The cause of death was given as 鈥渃atastrophic head injury鈥.

Rufus who was a pupil at Redland Green School was described by headteacher Ben Houghton as 鈥渁 lovely and valued member of our school community鈥.

He said his loss was 鈥渄evastating鈥 and that support measures had been put in place for pupils and staff.

South Wales Central Coroner Graeme Hughes said he had reason to suspect that Rufus鈥檚 death was 鈥渃aused or contributed to by a violent incident鈥.

The inquest was adjourned to allow further investigation to take place.

Mr Hughes expressed his condolences to Rufus鈥 family and friends.

Related topics