Much-loved teenager who accidentally drowned in river was 'oblivious' to risks, coroner rules

The death of a "happy and loving" teenager who drowned after running away from his grandparents' house in Trafford was a tragic accident, a coroner has ruled.

Luke Howe is "likely to have acted on impulse in the context of emotional dysregulation" and "without any appreciation of or regard to the risks inherent in being in or near water on a cold, dark night" Area Coroner Chris Morris said.

Luke, 14, from Sale, who had ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, was found dead in the River Bollin, near Ashley Road in Hale, on January 19 this year.

READ MORE: Tragedy of boy, 14, with autism and 'strong attraction' to water who ran away and drowned

He had vanished from his grandparents' home, in Hale, just before 6.15pm the previous evening. Police were called and friends, family, neighbours and even Luke's teachers went out to look for him in freezing temperatures with torches.

Witnesses who drove past Luke reported seeing him running along nearby roads in the area with his school uniform on. Sadly, the inquest heard his body was found in the River Bollin by a police diver the next day.

An inquest into his death was this week held at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport. Luke's father, James Howe, told the inquest of his son's regular 'escaping' - behaviour he said that 'stayed with him over the years, particularly when he was in an excited state.' He told of escapes he made from his home and from his specialist school in Sale, Brentwood Community College.

Mr Howe also said Luke had a 'strong attraction' to water and detailed a number of previous occasions when he had ran off and jumped into canals or rivers, saying he was also excited when the emergency services attended.

Coroner Mr Morris said that there was "no