Mexborough and Swinton Times March 2, 1928

Drowned Boy.
Don Gives up its Victim after Three Weeks.

A verdict of “Accidental death ” was returned by Mr. Frank Allen at an inquest held at Mexborough on Saturday into the death of Walter Flinders (10), who was washed away in the river Don at Swinton on February 5t1h, and whose body was recovered on Friday.

Walter Flinders, 26, Wood Street, a road-man employed by the Mexborough ‘Urban Council, said that his son left home on. February 5th to go to Sunday school, and he did not see him alive again.

Rowland Pyecock (13), of 14, Wood Street, said be called for Flinders on February 5th. They walked towards Swinton and went to the river Don, which was in flood and washing over its banks. Flinders took his boots and stockings off and ran through the floods. Witness saw Flinders fall into the river and the current took him away very quickly. He told a man on the bank, who plunged into the river, but could not find Flinders.

Joseph Mason, another schoolboy, said he saw Flinders run down the hill and saw him try to turn. Flinders could not stop himself and he slipped into the river.

Albert Jacques, of Dryden Road, Mexborough, said he was going towards the Mexborough Loco Depot along the river bank on Friday about 11.50 a. m., when he saw a body in the river. He informed the police.