Tyne River Tragedy: Bravery and Safety
Coroner Praises Teen's Bravery in Fatal River Tyne Rope Swing Tragedy; Safety Concerns Raised
Key Points
Paddleboarder Fiona Matthews pulled Aras Rudzianskas onto her paddleboard after finding him face down in the river and then continued chest compressions while paddling toward the bank, describing adrenaline kicking in during the rescue.
David Radut could not swim and let go of the rope swing too early, ending up in deeper water; during the struggle, he pushed Aras under the surface in panic as another child tried to help before both were lost to the river.
The tragedy occurred within a group outing that involved around 20 children who had travelled to Ovingham for rope-swing activities, highlighting the scale of supervision and safety considerations for such trips.
Following a 2022 fatality at the same spot, authorities discussed installing signage and reviewed the community risk management plan; a water-safety programme also delivered 64 talks in 2024, doubling the outreach from the previous year.
Two teenagers from Newcastle died on the River Tyne in May 2024 after a rope-swing outing turned tragic near Ovingham, Northumberland. Aras Rudzianskas, 13, jumped into the water to save his friend. He did not make it out alive. BBC reported that Assistant Coroner Paul Dunn praised his courage, saying he would have recorded the death as "bravery" if he legally could — and ultimately did.
David Ionut Radut, 14, also drowned that day. He could not swim and fell into deep water after letting go of the rope too early. The inquest returned an accidental verdict for David and a bravery verdict for Aras, marking a rare and solemn recognition of a child's selfless act, according to Liverpool Echo.
How the Rope Swing Became a Fatal Trap
Around 20 children had travelled to Ovingham to play on a rope swing by the River Tyne. David, who could not swim, let go of the rope too early and ended up in deeper water, according to Examiner Live. As another child tried to reach him, David panicked. In his struggle, he pushed Aras under the surface. Both boys were lost to the river.
Aras had run into the water the moment he saw his friend in trouble. He did not hesitate. The coroner noted that Aras entered deep water knowing the danger, according to AOL News. His decision to act cost him his life but reflected a courage that the inquest chose to formally recognise.
Paddleboarder's Desperate Race to the Bank
Fiona Matthews was paddleboarding nearby when she spotted Aras face down in the water. She pulled him onto her board and began chest compressions while paddling toward the bank. BBC reported that she described adrenaline taking over as she worked to keep him alive during the crossing.
Emergency crews arrived after the boys had already gone under. Responders and Matthews both gave testimony at the two-day Morpeth inquest. Despite her efforts, Aras could not be saved. Her account gave the inquest a vivid picture of the chaos and urgency of those final minutes on the river.
Warning Signs Were Absent After 2022 Death
The same spot had already claimed a life in 2022. Despite that earlier fatality, safety signs and equipment were not in place when Aras and David arrived in May 2024, the inquest heard. Authorities discussed plans to install signage after the 2022 death, but those plans had not been carried out, according to Birmingham Mail.
The inquest also reviewed the local community risk management plan for the river. Officials noted that a water-safety programme had grown significantly. It delivered 64 safety talks in 2024 — double the number from the year before — but that increased outreach had not reached the children on that May afternoon, according to Liverpool Echo.
A Bravery Verdict and Questions About River Safety
The inquest recorded a bravery verdict for Aras — a rare outcome that reflects how seriously the coroner viewed his actions. Coroner Dunn said Aras's "ultimate sacrifice" deserved to be named. David's death was recorded as accidental. Both families heard the full account of what happened over two days of testimony in Morpeth, according to BBC.
The tragedy has renewed pressure on local authorities to act faster on river safety. A group of 20 children at one unsupervised river spot raises hard questions about oversight. Signage, barriers, and safety outreach are now all under review. But for two families in Newcastle, those conversations come too late, according to Examiner Live.
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