Baby drowned in family’s lake, inquest told

An 18-month-old boy drowned in a lake at his family’s country manor estate, an inquest has heard.

Finley Howell Sanders, from Clydach in Swansea, was pulled from the water 45 minutes after being reported missing on 26 May 2021.

He had disappeared at about 22:00 BST while staying at the rural Maesycrugiau Manor near Pencader in Carmarthenshire, the inquest was told.

At an inquest in Llanelli, the coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

CCTV from the property showed Finley leaving the property and walking towards the pond area.

The inquest heard that Finley had been staying at his mother Alexandria Lewis’ family home, built on the ruins of an Elizabethan castle.

On the day of the accident, both his mother and grandmother, Mary, each believed he was with the other person.

Finley was pronounced dead in the early hours of 27 May 2021.

Coroner’s officer Hayley Rogers said police had received an emergency call “from a distressed female stating that she was unable to find her 18-month-old son”.

She said Finley was found “unresponsive in one of the lakes within the grounds”.

An investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police found that it “was a sudden and unexpected death” and nothing suggested foul play or third party involvement.

A post mortem confirmed Finley had died by drowning.

Acting senior coroner Paul Bennett said it was a “tragic accident,” adding: “Nothing is more tragic than the death of a young child”.

He said that “sadly and simply” it was “down to a sequence of events that no one intended to happen”.