A TWO-year-old boy was killed as his parents walked him back from the beach, an inquest heard.
Sonny Macdonald was in his pushchair, just minutes away from home, when a car crashed into the family at around 8.15pm on August 16.
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Little Sonny Macdonald was tragically killed after a car struck him in his pushchairCredit: UKNIP
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The tot’s parents were also seriously injured in the horrorCredit: UKNIP
Tragedy struck as the vehicle lost control and smashed through a metal barrier in Gorrell Tank car park, Whitstable, Kent.
Sonny was pronounced dead at the scene, while his parents were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
An inquest into the two-year-old’s death was opened at Oakwood House in Maidstone on Friday.
Coroner Katrina Hepburn said: “His mother and father witnessed his death, which occurred at approximately 8.24pm.
“[They] were walking back from Whitstable beach from the harbour with Sonny, who was in a pushchair.”
She said the car turned into Cromwell Road, “lost control” and “drove into the family”, as reported by Kent Online.
“The vehicle continued through a metal barrier down onto a car park below, around a six-foot drop, taking Sonny with it,” the coroner added.
Due to an ongoing police investigation, the inquest was adjourned.
Kent Police arrested a man in his 20s at the scene of the horror, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
He has been bailed while investigations are ongoing.
Floral tributes and cuddly toys were left at the scene in wake of the tragedy.
Canterbury and Whitstable MP Rosie Duffield said at the time: “I was shocked and very saddened to hear about the horrific incident in Whitstable, and I cannot begin to imagine what the family of the little boy who lost his life must be going through.
“My thoughts are with them and all caught up in this awful tragedy.
”Thank you to our excellent emergency services and all who were there to help, I hope the Police are able to carry out their investigations swiftly and provide some answers about what happened.
“I would urge anyone who may have been nearby to contact Kent Police in case you may have picked up important evidence on your dashcam, or witnessed something that may turn out to be significant.”
Witnesses who have not yet spoken to police, should call 01622 798538 or email [email protected], quoting reference BN/AL/058/25.
Relevant CCTV and dashcam footage can be uploaded via the online portal.
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Kent Police arrested a man in his 20s at the sceneCredit: UKNIP
A BELOVED grandmother choked to death after being fed the wrong food in a care home.
Joan Whitworth died at the Oaks Care Home in Northumberland after staff prepared her meal in a way which “did not comply with her diet plan”.
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Joan Whitworth, 88, tragically died after choking on her foodCredit: NCJ Media
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An inquest heard the grandmother was living at the Oaks Care HomeCredit: Google Maps
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The 88-year-old’s meal had not been prepared correctlyCredit: NCJ Media
An inquest heard the 88-year-old had lived with her daughter Gillian but moved into the facility when her dementia progressed.
When eating a meal on March 3, 2023, Joan began to display signs of choking.
But the inquest heard how a care assistant did not intervene and had to ask another staff member for help to deliver back slaps and abdominal thrusts.
And, CPR was not performed due to the “inaccurate understanding of a registered nurse”.
Following the hearing, Northumberland’s senior coroner Andrew Hetheringtonhas written a “prevention of future deaths” report.
The care home and NHS trust have 56 days to respond.
The coroner concluded Joan died “in a care home as a result of choking”.
And in his written report, he outlined a total of six “matters of concern”.
Of these, one was regarding the NHS trust and five were directed to the care home’s operator Hillcare.
The first issue was found with the speech and language team.
Joan’s assessment had not been written down in a formal report, meaning observations of her eating had only been passed on verbally.
The coroner also concluded that a nurse and care assistant at the home “were not in date with their training in Basic Life Support and First Aid at Work”.
The coroner added: “I am concerned that a chef in evidence at the inquest was not aware that breaded fish was not a suitable food stuff in the diet identified for the deceased.
“I am concerned that other residents could be fed inappropriate food stuffs that are not in line with their identified diet plans.”
Bryan Smith, Joan’s son-in-law, told ChronicleLive: “Right from the start, we knew what had happened – that they hadn’t given her the right food.
“We knew she hadn’t been looked after.
“The reason we have pursued this is that we knew what had happened.”
Bryan added how the family had been “shocked and astounded by the quantity and severity of the mistakes” that were highlighted in the inquest.
He told how many families have shared similar “painful and shocking experiences”.
In a statement on behalf of the family read in court, they paid tribute: “Joan was a well loved character in Blyth. She was manager of Robson’s shoe shop and then moved to the Water Board.
“When we used to go shopping with Joan, it would take you an hour to get past the car park – as she knew everyone in Blyth with a tap or a pair of shoes!”
A Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “All referrals to our speech and language therapy service are robustly triaged using a risk and evidence-based approach to inform the most appropriate care for that individual. This includes information on the referral form and discussion with the patient and / or those who care for them daily to gather the most up-to-date information.
“We cannot comment further on this case due to patient confidentiality, but would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Whitworth’s family and loved ones.”
A spokesperson for The Oaks Care Home said: “We acknowledge the Coroner’s report relating to the death of Joan Whitworth at our home in March 2023. Our thoughts remain with her family and loved ones.
“Following the incident, we carried out a full review and made all necessary changes to our practices and procedures. These have been in place for some time and will be reflected in our formal response to the Coroner’s report. The safety, dignity, and wellbeing of those in our care remain our highest priorities.”
Jay Slater’s mum Debbie Duncan asked for her son’s inquest to be resumed after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in May
One of the last people to speak to Jay Slater said the 19-year-old did not seem threatened as he made his way home from an Airbnb he had gone to with two men he had met in a nightclub in Tenerife, an inquest has heard.
Mr Slater, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on the Spanish island on 17 June 2024, shortly after speaking to his friend Bradley Geoghegan on the phone.
Asked by coroner Dr James Adeley if Mr Slater “seemed fearful or under duress”, Mr Geoghehan said: “No,” adding he had “probably… sobered up and decided to come back”.
A huge search was launched, and his body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July.
The inquest heard he had taken drugs and alcohol on a night out and had a 14-hour walk home.
Mr Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Mr Slater, said his friend had taken ecstasy pills, and possibly ketamine, along with cocaine and alcohol, on the night out before he disappeared.
Family handout
Jay Slater was found dead at the bottom of a Tenerife ravine last summer
The court heard Mr Slater had been forced to leave a nightclub because he was so drunk and instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, he went to an Airbnb, miles away, with two men they had met on the holiday.
The next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still “under the influence”, the inquest heard.
Mr Geoghegan said: “I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive.
“I said, ‘Get a taxi back’, then he just goes, ‘I will ring you back’.”
The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a fare.
Coroner Dr James Adeley asked the witness: “Did you get the impression he was in any way threatened or fearful, or under duress in a difficult situation?”
Mr Geoghegan replied: “No. I think he probably got there and thought, ‘Why am I here?’, sobered up and decided to come back.”
‘Last phone call’
The inquest also heard from Lucy Law who travelled to Tenerife with Mr Slater.
She recounted a phone call she received from a friend on the morning of 17 June 2024.
She said she was told Mr Slater was in the mountains and did not have much phone battery left.
Ms Law then described a subsequent phone call with Mr Slater – the last known outgoing communication from his phone – in which she asked him where he was and what he was doing.
“He was like ‘I’m in the middle of the mountains’.”
She said Mr Slater told her there was “literally nothing” around.
She added she was panicking because his battery was low, and asked him to go back to where he came from.
Reuters
Jay Slater’s body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July after a huge search
Mr Slater, had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on 16 June last year.
Mr Slater vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing to Spanish police on 18 June.
Evidence heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine.
A huge search was launched before his body was found by a mountain rescue team almost a month later.
‘No evidence of assault’
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, had asked for the inquest into the death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in May.
Dr Adeley agreed to adjourn the inquest to trace the witnesses, those who had been with him in the hours before he vanished.
The hearing in May heard from a number of witnesses, including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin.
The court heard analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Mr Slater’s body.
Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater’s body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height.
‘Off his head’
Det Ch Insp Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater’s phone data.
On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was “off his head”.
Phone location data suggested Mr Slater had travelled to the Airbnb and the next morning and left the property at about 07.45.
Statements from Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him home.
More messages from friends warned him about the “boiling” heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 08:51, suggesting his phone battery had died.
Reuters
Mr Slater went missing in the early hours of 17 June 2024 and his body was found after a huge search lasting almost a month
The next witness, Ayub Qassim, said he and a friend, Steven Roccas, met Mr Slater and his friends out in Tenerife.
He said he had been in a different venue then later met Mr Slater and Mr Geoghegan getting something to eat after the clubs closed.
He said Mr Slater asked if he could come back to his and Mr Roccas’ apartment.
Mr Qassim, giving evidence via videolink, told the hearing: “I did say, ‘Bro, oh mate, it’s so far away from the strip’.
“There’s nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us.”
‘Did not steal’
The coroner then asked the witness about messages Mr Slater had sent about a watch possibly being stolen.
The inquest was shown a Snapchat video featuring a short clip of a car dashboard with a caption referring to taking a “12k rolly” and being off to “get 10 quid for it”.
He added: “Jay did not steal no watch. I can say one hundred per cent.”
Asked to explain the social media post by Mr Slater, the witness said: “He could be boasting to his friends. He’s on a buzz, so maybe it could be that. Sometimes people do exaggerate.”
The coroner said: “But so far as you are concerned, none of that is true?”
Mr Qassim said: “No. One hundred per cent. I didn’t see a watch. At this point he’s just firing off messages.”
He said when they got to his Airbnb he gave Mr Slater a blanket and pillow and told him he could sleep on the sofa before going off to his own bed.
Warned him
Mr Qassim said he was woken a short time later by a couple pressing the buzzer because they wanted him to move his car.
When he got out his car Mr Slater came towards him and said he was leaving and to “catch a bus” to go back to his apartment, Mr Qassim told the court.
He said he told Mr Slater there were no buses and warned him against it.
Mr Qassim said he told Mr Slater to wait and he would drive him back later but he replied his friends were waiting for him.
Mr Qassim said he went back to sleep, presuming Mr Slater was waiting at the bus stop.
The coroner asked him if there was any altercation between them to which Mr Qassim replied: “No.”
A FORMER Met detective who investigated Jay Slater’s disappearance has said his drug dealer “pal” has to come forward and answer key questions from the inquest.
Detective turned TV-sleuth Mr Williams-Thomas said he had been in close contact during the investigation with a number of witnesses – including Jay’s family and friends.
Now he has urged Qassim to come forward and answer questions from the “disappointing” inquest.
Qassim took the19-year-old Britback to anAirbnbin Masca the night before he went missing on June 17.
Mr Williams-Thomas called Qassim “the most important witness” who he says gave him “crucial evidence” that “hasn’t been made public” yet.
The ex-detective added that the evidence he received from Qassim in his own investigation provides “greater context” as to why Jay left the villa.
Qassim was previously jailed for nine years in 2015 as the ringleader of a London-based gang dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff.
He and another Brit previously known only as “Rocky” had rented the Airbnb in the remote Tenerife mountains that they took Jay back to after the festival.
Jay posted a final Snapchat picture of himself smoking on the doorstep of the apartment at 7.30am on June 17 before leaving shortly after.
Qassim has always denied any involvement in Jay’s death.
Jay Slater inquest drama as mum makes shock demand…meaning MORE bombshells to come after drugs & ‘missing’ pals revealed
One of those theories claimed Jay had stolen a £12,000 watch – which his mum Debbie dismissed as vile rumours.
Josh Forshaw, who met Jay as they boarded a plane from Manchester to Tenerife, said he received a message from the teen before he disappeared.
It read: “Ended up getting thrown out with two Mali kids, just took an AP [luxury watch strap] off somebody and was on the way to sell it.”
Josh told the hearing via video link that Jay said he was planning to sell the strap for “10 quid”, slang for £10,000.
Josh told the hearing he received a Snapchat from Jay later in the night that claimed he “ended up getting thrown out” of the venue with two other people.
He also claimed Jay sent him a photo showing “knives down his trousers” that was captioned “in case it kicks off”.
Josh said he didn’t mention the image to Spanish police before leaving Tenerife, but did inform cops in Lancashire on his return.
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The Airbnb Jay went to before he vanishedCredit: Steve Reigate
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Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan pictured outside Preston Coroner’s CourtCredit: STEVE ALLEN
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Dad Warren Slater and brother outside the hearingCredit: STEVE ALLEN
Speaking of Josh’s claim of receiving the knives image, Mr Williams-Thomas says he was told that they weren’t found with him and were left in the apartment.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay travelled to the Spanish island in June to attend the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas with two friends, Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves.
The teen travelled to an Airbnb apartment in Masca with two men including Qassim in the early hours of June 17, before leaving at around 8am.
Jay, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, made a heartbreaking final call to his friend Law saying he had cut his leg, was lost, dehydrated and had just one per cent battery on his phone after he left the Airbnb.
They claimed she was also unaware that she had been called to give evidence at the inquest.
Speaking at the family home in Burnley, Lucy’s stepfather Andy Davis said: “We had no idea Jay’s inquest was even being held today.
“The police have only just been round today to say that she was due to give evidence. But it’s the first time we knew of it.”
He added: “They asked if Lucy was home and I said she was abroad and they asked me if I was aware that she should have been in court, and I said I wasn’t.”
“The police said they had sent Lucy paperwork with the dates on it, but the first I knew about it was when the police turned up earlier today.”
Sources in the Slater family later said they were aware where the other missing witnesses were, and had also been able to find them easily, according to the MailOnline.
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Jay with friend Lucy Law, who he was on holiday withCredit: Instagram
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A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuriesCredit: Ian Whittaker
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Jay’s devastated mum Debbie beside his graveCredit: Louis Wood
The family source said: “Lucy is in Tenerife. Another supposedly untraceable witness is on holiday in Greece.
“If we can find this out so quickly why can’t the police?”
The court also heard a suggestion that witnesses may be reluctant to appear because drugs may have been involved.
After Jay’s body was found, officials said there were traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine in his body.
Dr Adeley said: “When drugs are involved in a death, the witnesses are less than forthcoming and do not wish to speak to the authorities.”
Jay‘s disappearance and death remain largely cloaked in mystery and it is hoped that glaring gaps in his final movements will be filled after the inquest.
The inquest heard from three construction workers who said, via video link, they saw Jay on the main road through the remote village of Masca and he asked them about bus times.
He was attempting the treacherous 10-hour walk back to his apartment in Los Cristianos when he called Lucy to say he was lost.
DCI Rachel Higson, head of digital media investigations at Lancashire Police, told the hearing today that Jay’s phone recorded “a lot of steps and inclines” between 7.59am and 8.49am.
His mobile last pinged in the mountainous Rural de Teno Park after Jay walked the wrong way from the Airbnb, and DCI Higson said there was “no data recorded” after 8.49:51am.
After a month-long search, Jay’s body was found in a ravine on July 15 last year – near to where his phone last pinged.
A post-mortem examination concluded he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.
Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd today told the inquest Jay suffered a “heavy fall from height” and the “devastating” effects would have been “immediate”.
Why the inquest farce is more pain for Jay’s family
AS I stood in the sweltering, remote mountains of Masca I was told the news Jay Slater’s loved ones dreaded – his body had been found.
But for his devastated family, it didn’t bring the closure they so desperately needed.
Now almost a year on, his grief-stricken mum, dad and brother have been subjected to yet more torment as an inquest into his death dredged up painful details of his disappearance – while lacking any actual answers.
Jay’s courageous mum Debbie Duncan opened up to me just weeks after his body was found about how she was tortured by not knowing what happened to her beloved son before he fell to his death.
I was humbled by the bravery she showed in the face of living every parent’s worst nightmare on the world stage – relentlessly hounded by mindless trolls.
Spineless witnesses failing to turn up to the hearing to provide crucial information is a kick in the teeth for Debbie and his already suffering family.
The 19-year-old went missing 11 months ago, and his body tragically discovered 29 days later.
So why after all these months has the court failed to bring together vital witnesses – including the two friends he was on holiday with?
After months and months of battling through their grief, the last thing Jay’s family needed was to face a farce of a hearing without the necessary witnesses.
