Latest news with #Athrun
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
Inquest opens into tragic death of Athrun Lombardo off Llandudno coast
An inquest has been opened into the tragic death of teenager Athrun Lombardo. A major land, sea and air search was launched after the 16-year-old vanished on May 10 while staying in Llandudno with his parents and brother. The teenager, said to have complex needs and being autistic and dyspraxic, was last seen at the resort's West Shore wearing only his blue swimming shorts. Four days later his body was found in the sea and a paramedic at Conwy lifeboat station confirmed his death. After a post-mortem examination, Home Office pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf gave a provisional cause of death as drowning. At the opening of an inquest in Ruthin, John Gittins, Senior Coroner for North Wales East and Central, said the family, from Emmersons Green, Bristol, had been visiting Mrs Lombardo's parents in Llandudno and staying in an Airbnb. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed. Following the youngster's tragic death, Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan, of North Wales Police, said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Athrun's family, who wish to thank all agencies and members of the public for their overwhelming support with the search, and for not giving up on his recovery. 'This is not the outcome anyone hoped for, but we hope it can now provide some answers for Athrun's family. I continue to ask for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly difficult time.' Why journalists cover inquests and why it's crucial that we do Reporting on an inquest can be one of the hardest types of stories a journalist can write. More often than not, they are emotionally charged proceedings attended by grief-stricken people who are desperate for answers. Sometimes, inquests can seem quite clinical due to a coroner's need to remain impartial and level-headed so that they can draw a conclusion from desperately sad events. As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one, the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others' lives. Families are often surprised - and sometimes angry - when they see a reporter in attendance. Understandably they worry the nature of their loved one's death will be sensationalised and that a news story will forever tarnish their memory. Responsible and ethically minded journalists will do what they can to report inquests sensitively, while not shying away from the often upsetting facts. It is vital that the public don't forget that inquests are a type of judicial inquiry; they are after all held in a coroner's court. The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of 'open justice'. But in doing so journalists must follow the guidance provided by the Independent Press Standards Organisation and set out in Editors' Code of Conduct. It's a journalist's duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person's death. But most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening. Inquests are not criminal courts - there is no prosecution or defence - they are fact-finding tribunals which seek to answer four key questions: Who is the person who died? Where did they die? When did they die? How did they die? They do not apportion blame. Once these questions are answered a coroner will be able to record a conclusion. The wider lessons that can be learned from an inquest can have far-reaching consequences - but if journalists do not attend them how can the public be made aware? The harsh reality is they can't. Coroners often do not publish the results of an inquest. Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system - and numerous others who need to answer vital questions - is not held to account. Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide. Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one. Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected. However, as has been seen by many brilliant campaigns run by newspapers and websites up and down the country, the input of a person's family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- BBC News
Headlines: Blue walls in car park and maternity unit closure
Here's our weekly roundup of stories from across local websites in the West of have a daily round up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app. What have been the big stories in the West this week? At the start of the week Bristol woke up to the news of a death at the half marathon event on the West Country reported 28-year-old rugby player Jon Devereux, from Chester, died after after collapsing and falling ill at the Great Bristol Live's article on the sudden closure of part of the Co-op car park in Westbury-on-Trym and some walls installed there also gained a lot of attention this week. Nearby residents are now calling for an investigation after the area was cordoned off with blue body found in the search for missing 16-year-old Athrun got a lot of reaction from ITV West Country and Bristol Live audiences. Searches had been ongoing in the West Shore area of Llandudno following the sighting of a body on news from The Dorset Echo, Somerset Live and ITV West Country on the temporary closure of Yeovil's maternity unit gained a lot of traction this week. In a statement the hospital trust told ITV West Country, it "cannot currently safely run the unit" or "safely provide care during labour and birth". Top six stories for the BBC in the West Something longer to read This week BBC News took an in-depth look at children's safety online across the West of West's live page compiled investigative and analytical pieces across all platforms including this piece on teenagers being exposed to content about weapons, bullying, murder and suicide soon after joining social media platforms. Explore more with our daily roundups
ITV News
15-05-2025
- ITV News
Police confirm body recovered in Llandudno is that of missing 16 year old boy
North Wales Police has confirmed that the body recovered during searches near Llandudno is that of a 16-year-old who has been missing for nearly a week. Athrun, aged 16, from South Gloucestershire, was on holiday in the Welsh town. Athrun's family have been informed and are being supported by officers. Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Athrun's family, who wish to thank all agencies and members of the public for their overwhelming support with the search, and for not giving up on his recovery. 'This is not the outcome anyone hoped for, but we hope it can now provide some answers for Athrun's family. 'I continue to ask for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly difficult time.' He was last seen at around 2pm on Saturday, 10 May, on West Shore Beach in Llandudno. Multi-agency searches had been ongoing following the sighting of a body on the evening of 13 May. Searches conducted by the police underwater search team, NPAS and coastguard resulted in a body being recovered.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Llandudno: Body identified as missing teen Athrun following search
The body of a "vulnerable" 16-year-old boy who went missing at the weekend has been identified. Athrun, who was autistic, and believed to be wearing only blue and white patterned swim shorts and no footwear, was reported missing from West Shore Beach in Llandudno, Conwy county at about 14:00 BST on 10 an extensive sea search, North Wales Police recovered a body and it was identified as Athrun, from South Gloucestershire on Insp Trystan Bevan said: "Our thoughts are very much with Athrun's family, who wish to thank all agencies and members of the public for their overwhelming support with the search, and for not giving up on his recovery." He added: "This is not the outcome anyone hoped for, but we hope it can now provide some answers for Athrun's family."
The Sun
15-05-2025
- The Sun
Body found in major search for missing boy, 16, who vanished from beach while on holiday with family
A BODY has been found after a major search for a missing 16-year-old who vanished while on holiday with his family. Athrun went missing on Wednesday in the West Shore area of Llandudno prompting a widescale search. Cops said: "A body has been recovered this evening during searches for missing 16-year-old Athrun. "Multi-agency searches resumed this evening, Wednesday May 14 th, in the West Shore area of Llandudno following sighting of a body on Tuesday evening. "Searches conducted by the police underwater search team, NPAS and coastguard resulted in a body being recovered today at 6.20pm. "Formal identification is yet to take place, but Athrun's family have been informed and are being supported by officers. "The death is not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner has been informed." Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan said: 'My deepest condolences remain with Athrun's family, and I would ask for their privacy to be respected at this incredibly sad and difficult time. 'This is not the outcome anyone hoped for, and I would once again like to thank partner agencies and members of the public for their overwhelming support and tireless assistance with the searches over the last five days.'
