Mystery woman in sea is missing Herefordshire pensioner

A WOMAN found dead in the sea off Watchet has been identified as a pensioner from Herefordshire who disappeared from her home in the early hours of November 7.
Marion Warwick (pictured), aged 75, was spotted floating 550 yards off Watchet Harbour a week ago by Scooby Doo Too fishing boat skipper Steve Yeandle.
Police appealed for any information which might help to identify her, and cross-checked missing persons reports before dental records revealed her identity.
The West Somerset Coroner, Michael Rose, yesterday opened an inquest into Mrs Warwick’s death, and adjourned the proceedings to a date to be fixed.
A post mortem examination has been carried out on Mrs Warwick to determine a cause of death, but the results were said to be inconclusive.
Mrs Warwick, who lived in Wilton, Ross-on-Wye, was last seen by her husband Christopher at about 3 am on November 7 when she got out of bed.
When Mr Warwick woke again later in the morning, there was no trace of his wife, who was known occasionally to suffer loss of memory and who was on medication for a heart condition.
He immediately called the police.
The couple’s home was not far from the River Wye, which eventually empties into the River Severn close to the original Severn Bridge.
A spokesman for the coroner said the inquest was likely to be transferred to the coroner in Ross-on-Wye, where it was thought Mrs Warwick entered the water.
Police said they were not looking for anybody else in connection with Mrs Warwick’s death.
Mr Yeandle said: “I am pleased she has been identified and her family are aware. I am pleased we did the little we could and my thoughts are with the family this Christmas. I am sorry for their loss.”

Family of drowned harbour teenager threaten to sue council

THE family of a teenager who drowned after jumping into Minehead Harbour are considering suing West Somerset Council for not providing a lifeguard who might have saved him.
Sixteen-year-old Sam Boyd, of Minehead, died on August 2 last year after leaping 10 feet into the sea from the harbour steps as the area around the harbour was packed with holidaymakers and local residents enjoying a summer’s evening.
He and a young friend ignored warning signs about the danger, and Sam also disregarded advice his mother had previously given him not to swim in the harbour.
The family moved to Minehead from Tottenham, in North London, only four months before the tragedy.
An inquest yesterday, Tuesday, January 29, heard evidence of how Sam ’doggy paddled’ to a post 50 feet out to sea and then found himself in difficulties in the heavy tide as he returned.
Sam was heard three times to shout ‘help me’ before he disappeared under the water.
He was found during the early hours of the following day after an intensive search and rescue operation which involved Minehead’s lifeboat crew, local boat owners, police, and a deep-sea diving team.
Sam’s mother, Louise Boyd, told the West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose how Sam could swim well at school but did not have a lot of experience of swimming in the sea.
She had told Sam not to swim or jump into the harbour because he said he had previously struggled there.
Mr Rose recorded a verdict of accidental death and spoke of the dangers of swimming in the sea.
Mr Rose said: “Minehead has the second-fastest tide in the world and as the lifeboatmen have told us, not even a strong swimmer could beat the currents.
“It would have been almost impossible. I would strongly advise people not to do this and I will be writing to authorities to demand clearer signs.”
Afterwards, the family spoke of their anger at the council for not making sure the harbour had a lifeguard on duty and said they were looking at taking legal action.
Sam’s stepfather, Martin Darrell, said: “It goes to prove that Minehead needs better safety provisions in the harbour. A lifeguard might have made a difference.”

• Our photograph shows how the web version of the The Post reported the tragedy on the morning after it happened.

Judge frees manslaughter charge youth on bail

ONE of two youths accused of killing Minehead man Tim Chilcott has been released from custody by a judge.
The 16-year-old was granted bail when he appeared on a manslaughter charge in Exeter Crown Court yesterday, Tuesday, January 29.
Judge Graham Cottle ordered the youth to live with a relative in Edmonton, London, while on bail and to report to his local police station every Friday.
The judge also imposed an 8 pm to 6 am curfew on the teenager and banned him from entering Somerset other than to attend appointments with his legal team.
The youth was further ordered not to contact any witnesses in the case, nor any other defendants.
The teenager appeared in court with 19-year-old Sean Wylds, of Alcombe, Minehead, who was also charged with manslaughter following Mr Chilcott's death in hospital on January 21, 36 hours after he had been found unconscious in a Minehead town centre street.
Wylds was remanded in custody.
Judge Cottle adjourned the hearing for seven weeks while prosecution papers were prepared, with a view to taking a plea and holding a case management hearing five weeks later.

• Meanwhile, an inquest into Mr Chilcott's death was opened yesterday, when evidence was given that he died from a fractured skull.
  Two policemen who found Mr Chilcott lying at the junction of Blenheim Road and The Avenue at first thought he was all right but then realised he had blood on his mouth and chin and that the pupils of his eyes were dilated.

Family statement published as manslaughter charge youths appear before judge

THE family of Timothy Chilcott, who was killed in a street attack in Minehead on the weekend before last, today (Tuesday, January 29) released a statement in memory of him.
The statement was on behalf of his parents Fred and Sylvia, his brother Kevin, and his sister Heather, brother-in-law Phill, sister-in-law Jayde, and nephew Rhyley.
It came as two teenagers accused of killing Tim Chilcott were due to appear before a judge in Exeter Crown Court today at the start of committal proceedings.
Sean Wylds, aged 19, from Minehead, and a 16-year-old youth, also from Minehead, whose identity is currently protect by the law because he is under 18, face charges of manslaughter.They have been in custody since an initial appearance before magistrates in Taunton last Tuesday, and it was expected they would again be remanded in custody by the judge.A third youth, aged 18 years, who was arrested along with Wylds and the 16-year-old, also from Minehead, is currently on police bail while further inquiries are carried out.
Mr Chilcott was found unconscious with severe head injuries in Blenheim Road, Minehead, at 1 am on Sunday, January 20.
He died in hospital 36 hours later after being on a life support machine.
The family statement said: “Tim was the best and most loving son and brother that we could have ever wished for.
“He was very caring, not just to us his family, but was always there for anybody who needed him.
“He will always be remembered for his pearls of wisdom, jokes and laughter with everybody, and had a good sense of humour.
“For us his family, we feel a great loss of a son and brother that we loved so very much.
“To know that Tim was so special to so many people is helping us cope with our loss.
“We would like to thank everybody for their support and their kindness.”
The family requested the media not to contact them directly and asked to be left ‘to grieve at this sad time’.
West Somerset coroner Michael Rose was also today due to open Mr Chilcott's inquest for identification purposes before adjourning to a date to be fixed.