Barmouth tragedy: Birmingham boys drowned after being caught out by surf, inquest heard

It happened last August at Barmouth, during a visit by the Yemeni Association from Birmingham.

The two victims, whose bodies were washed up later north of Barmouth, were Waseem Muflahi, 15, of Dixon Road, and Yahye Omar Mohamed, 14, of Clodeshall Road, both of Birmingham.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded at an inquest.

Coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said at the Caernarfon inquest that the boys had experience of swimming pools "but no experience of swimming in surf from an open beach."

The coroner added: "It's a classic situation of both active boys going swimming not realising the danger of being caught in surf which would have strong undertows, and due to their lack of experience they drowned."

But he said Barmouth was a safe beach with no strong current.

However, a colleague, Mahdi Farah had urged them not to go out far because of the risk posed by surf.

He had tried to get to them but suffered cramp and had to be brought ashore by beach wardens, who in fact were not life-guards.

Mr Pritchard Jones said : "Just as there's no such thing as a safe mountain, there's also no such thing as a safe beach. There's always a risk on beaches and Barmouth was no less or greater than elsewhere."

Giving evidence Mr Farah described how a large group had gone to Barmouth from Birmingham that day. The boys had sprinted up and down the shore, enjoying themselves.

But when they were in the sea "a couple of strong waves came crashing down. I was telling them to keep calm – I realised if I didn't call for help all three of us wouldn't make it. I swam back."

It was the first time they had been to Barmouth. Harbourmaster Anthony Glyn Jones said there would be undulating sand with carrying channels where the boys had gone in.

"There had been problems in the past and there could be changes on a daily basis. The surf will pull your feet from beneath you," he explained.

When he arrived at the scene he could see three people in the water 50 yards apart in a line. Beach wardens went in with throw-lines but a wave had hit them, carrying them forward not backward. A lifeboat was launched but failed to find the two boys.

Mr Jones said wardens had been instructed to tell the public that day there was a big surf, with advice not to enter the water.

In a statement on behalf of the families after the inquest Mr Farah said the boys were close friends from a close-knit Muslim community in Birmingham. The families had been devastated and there had been an impact on the community.

The statement said: "Both families are still trying to come to terms with this tragic loss. They would like to thank everyone who was involved in the rescue attempt and the aftercare following this incident."