A tragic incident occurred when a young schoolboy drowned shortly after entering the Exeter Canal. Delvin Tinashe Musakwa, aged 13, was swimming with friends at Clapperbrook Bridge on May 5, 2025. Despite one friend safely returning to land after jumping into the water, Delvin did not resurface. Multiple individuals attempted a rescue mission, but unfortunately, Delvin’s body was recovered approximately 25 minutes later, and he later passed away at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
During the inquest at Devon Coroner’s Court in Exeter, Delvin’s mother, Cecelia Chipiri, shared that he was a student at Isca Academy and an enthusiastic sportsman involved with Heavitree Youth FC. Although he had received swimming lessons as a child, Cecelia mentioned that Delvin was not a confident swimmer but knew his limits in the water.
Described as a responsible and sociable young man who enjoyed school and had a close circle of friends, Delvin had been playing football with his friends before deciding to go swimming at Double Locks on a hot day. Tragically, when Delvin jumped into the canal, he faced difficulties and struggled to resurface, leading to the unfortunate incident.
Witnesses recounted the distressing events, with individuals bravely attempting to rescue Delvin from the water. Despite their efforts, the situation was challenging due to poor visibility and deep, cold water. Emergency services responded promptly, including police, ambulance, fire crews, and the air ambulance.
Dr. Deborah Cook, a Home Office forensic pathologist, determined that Delvin’s cause of death was drowning. She noted that Delvin was in good health without any underlying conditions that could have prevented his actions in the water. The possibility of cold water shock causing Delvin to gasp for air reflexively and leading to his drowning was discussed.
The senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay coroner area, Philip Spinney, praised the public for their brave and selfless efforts to assist Delvin. He concluded that Delvin’s death was accidental, likely a result of cold water shock following his entry into the water.