Man pulled from sea near Scarborough Spa last summer died from accidental drowning

Gheorghe Radu Cimpean, of Crown Crescent, who was 26 at the time of his death, had been living in Scarborugh for six months after moving from his native Romania.

On July 26 2019, he was spotted face down in the sea 3-4m from shore by visiting tourist Matthew Robinson.

In a statement read to the Coroner’s Court, Mr Robinson said: “I was walking towards the rockpools when I saw a pair of black trainers and a rucksack 20-30 metres away from the sea.

“I thought this was strange as the sea was very choppy.”

Walking back from the rockpools with his partner and her son at around 7.40pm Mr Robinson spotted a man in the sea, entered the water and pulled Mr Cimpean onto the beach while his partner called for emergency services.

With the help of two passers-by, Mr Robinson administered first aid at the scene before the ambulance arrived.

At 8.10pm paramedics transported Mr Cimpean to Scarborough Hospital where he was put on a chest compression machine, given warming fluids and a rewarming device.

Dr Richard Wallace Smith, a consultant in emergency medicine who treated Mr Cimpean, said a decision to withdraw treatment was taken at 8.57pm based on futility, the inquest heard.

Mr Cimpean’s sister Madalina said in a statement her brother “loved the town and the sea.”

She said: “I can’t understand how this happened, he was a strong swimmer and went swimming in the sea.”

A post mortem examination found Mr Cimpean’s cause of death to be immersion in water, and no injuries were identified.

Speaking at the inquest, Detective Sergeant Philip Giblin said Mr Cimpean has been found wearing swimming trunks a police investigation found nothing in his belongings which suggested suicide.

He agreed with coroner Mr Robert D Turnbull when he said: “It would be strange for someone intent on [taking their own life], to change into swimming shorts.”

Recording a conclusion that Mr Cimpean died as a result of an accident, Mr Turnbull said: “There were no suspicious circumstances and all circumstances in which he was found suggest he had gone swimming and drowned.”