Father-to-be drowns on trip
A promising young Black Country accountant who was looking forward to the birth of his first child has drowned during a work camping trip in Wales.
Carl Wright, who was aged just 31, was on a one-day team-building exercise with colleagues from Mitchells & Butlers brewery when he slipped.
He knocked himself out before falling into a stream.
His heartbroken father Pete Wright told today how the tragedy had shattered the entire family, particularly Carl's wife Amanda who is nearly three months pregnant.
On the night of his death Carl, who lived in Compton, had been sitting around a camp fire with colleagues in Brecon Beacons when it started to rain.
His father Pete said the group moved to a nearby stone building to shelter which his son left at around 1am. "The police think because it was so dark he lost his way back to the tent," he said. "He fell, knocked himself out and drowned in a stream."
The body of the former St Michael's Junior School pupil was found at 7am the next morning.
Mr Wright added: "We're not doing so well. He was my lad but I'm trying to be strong for everyone else's sake. His wife Amanda is 11 weeks pregnant and she's in pieces."
Carl left home around six years ago and was married in 2004.
Mr Wright said he had been to the place where the group was camping and described it as "very bleak". "This was meant to be a good experience for everybody and it's turned into a tragedy," he added.
Dyfed-Powys police were called to the waterside in the Dolygaer area at around 8am on September 19 by a member of the group. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Carl worked at Mitchells & Butlers in Fleet Street, Birmingham. His funeral is taking place at St Michael's RC Church, in Coalway Road, on October 2.
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