Son died at fun day for pupils

Mrs Matthews and the rest of Nathan's family have waited nearly three and a half years for answers about how he came to die at Thame Leisure Centre on July 12, 2004, while on a school swimming fun day' with Stokenchurch Primary School.

Yesterday, as the inquest began, she told the jury of six men and two women at Oxford Coroner's Court: "He was a very healthy child. He loved his football, his swimming and other sports. He was not a sickly child."

Nathan, from Stokenchurch, was one of 60 year six pupils enjoying a day out at the end of a five-week swimming course at the leisure centre while their own school pool was being refurbished, the inquest heard.

Mrs Matthews said Nathan had only attended the first lesson and the final fun day' event because he had been off school.

She said: "He was being bullied at school and at the bus stop. I was trying to sort it out with the school.

"I kept Nathan off school while I was trying to sort it out. That was his first day back."

The court also heard from Detective Sergeant Alan Clements of Thame police station, who investigated Nathan's death, as well as two teachers and two learning support assistants from Stokenchurch Primary School who were at the pool that day.

Nathan had been ranked four on an increasing scale of one to eight of swimming ability, and was taking part in the second of several relay races, making his way across the width of the pool to drop a sinker' when he got into difficulty. The court heard he was spotted at the bottom of the pool by several adults and a child, who raised the alarm.

Nathan was retrieved from the pool by a swimming instructor from Lord Williams's School, who laid him beside the pool where leisure centre staff tried to resuscitate him.

Paramedics later arrived to take the boy to John Radcliffe Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The inquest is expected to continue for two weeks.