Schoolboy who plunged from cliff was 'disorientated' by infection, inquest hears

A schoolboy who plunged off cliffs on a geography trip was suffering from an infection which made him "disorientated", an inquest heard today.

Paddy Dear, 16, was found by police at the foot of 60ft cliffs after his teachers reported him missing.

The sixth-former from the Campion Roman Catholic boys school in Hornchurch, London, was visiting the Dale Point study centre in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, with his his school when he died.

A pathologist's report said the infection of group A streptococcal septicaemia could cause "disorientation, confusion, unsteadiness and an inability to comprehend dangerous situations".

Paddy disappeared at about 17.30pm and was later found by police after a search in March last year.

Some of Paddy's friends told police he had been having trouble sleeping at Dale Fort.

One said he had not managed to get to sleep until about 4am one night and slept on the minibus to and from a number of field trips.

Judith Curry told the inquest she saw Paddy on the sea wall opposite her home leading to the fort.

She said: "He was pacing up and down. I would say not say he was in control. He was agitated."

Christine Millican, head of centre at Dale Fort for the Field Studies Council, said visiting students were "warned of the danger of the cliffs" around the fort.

Paddy's parents, Michael and Patrica Dear, were at the inquest in Milford Haven. Mrs Dear said: "Nothing we do today's going to bring Paddy back."

Pembrokeshire Coroner Mark Layton recorded a narrative conclusion saying Paddy died following a fall from height while suffering from the infection.

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