Father died despite son's 'valiant' rescue attempt

A barrister drowned while swimming in Tenerife despite the "valiant efforts" of his teenage son to save him after sea conditions deteriorated, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Howd, from Farnham, Surrey, died in Punta de Teno in the Canary Islands after rough seas swept him and son William away in April 2023.

An inquest in Winchester heard that the 57-year-old, who was a "strong swimmer", often went to the rocky outcrop to jump into the sea but father and son got into difficulties when the sea conditions rapidly worsened.

Recording a conclusion of misadventure, coroner Jason Pegg commended Mr Howd's son for his "brave attempt" to save his father, who died from drowning according to a post-mortem.

The inquest was told that sea conditions dramatically changed after the father and son jumped off the rocks.

They were unable to swim back to the jump off point which was then submerged.

Mr Pegg said that other people on the shore made a makeshift rope from clothing which William, who was 16 at the time, managed to grab hold of and was pulled back ashore.

He continued: "Tragically his father was not able to do so and it appears whilst trying to do so, the force of the water threw Stephen against the rocks causing Stephen to sustain a head injury.

"From the shore, William saw his father slowing down and swimming but not getting any closer to where he wanted to be.

"William then jumped back into the sea and swam out to his father. When William reached his father he described his father as being slumped over and face down in the water."

William, now 18, was able to swim back to the rocks with his father but believed that he had passed away by this point, Mr Pegg added.

The coroner said that William was unable to get his father ashore and Mr Howd was swept out to sea again until rescuers arrived and were able to retrieve him.

Mr Howd was pronounced dead at the scene.

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