Lecturer drowned while trying to save six-year-old son, inquest hears

A university lecturer died trying to save his six-year-old son while on holiday, an inquest has heard.

Dr James Lincoln, 45, who was an economics lecturer at Manchester University, was celebrating his birthday at Borth y Gest beach near Porthmadog in August last year when the incident happened.

The inquest heard how he was in the water with his son, Sam, when the six-year-old got into difficulty in an estuary.

Mr Pritchard Jones said the cause of death was drowning. “It would appear that Sam got into difficulties and his father went to his rescue.

“James was able to swim, he should have survived this. Unfortunately in rescuing Sam he drowned. What exactly happened we don’t really know because there aren’t any other witnesses.”

The coroner added : “It was only when Sam was brought to the shore it was realised he was holding on to his father”.

Dr Lincoln's son was brought to safety by a man who swam out to him. When Dr Lincoln was pulled out of the water he showed no signs of life.

During an inquest in Caernarfon, Dr Lincoln's mother said she remembers the tide had been going out and she heard calls for help.

Mrs Rosemary Segger told the inquest, "Six months later I can’t understand it because he was a strong swimmer, a fit healthy man”.

Despite efforts to resuscitate him on the beach Dr Lincoln, of South Trafford, Manchester, was found to be dead on arrival in hospital at Bangor.

Mr Pritchard Jones said it highlighted the danger of ebbing tides in estuaries around the coast, with the force of the tide when it turned.

In a tribute Manchester University called Dr Lincoln a passionate and inspiring lecturer - “an incredible loss to the economics department.”