A university student who was found dead after a month-long search by the police, ran away from his parents in a tragedy that became tragic, a forensic autopsy heard.
Film student Charley Gadd, 20, was found on January 10 this year in the River Irwell in Salford, Manchester.
He was at an evening with parents Jolyon and Kimberley Gadd at The Warehouse Project in Manchester city center on 11 December last year, but later ‘fled’ from them.
His father, Jolyon, said he had already run away from them once that night as a joke.
He said: ‘I chased him and ran a few blocks. He fell over and I picked him up.
‘I found it very funny that I was so awkward and we walked down arm in arm. Then we went to get him something to eat, but he ran away again. ‘
Mr Gadd was last seen around 11:10 on December 11 by his family near the Spar store on St Mary’s Gate, Manchester.
A university student who was found dead after a month-long search by the police, ran away from his parents in a tragedy that became tragic, a forensic autopsy heard. Film student Charley Gadd, 20, was found on January 10 this year in the River Irwell in Salford, Manchester.
They desperately tried for hours to locate him before reporting him missing to the police.
CCTV footage shows him outside Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theater, on his way to St Anne’s Street, just before 1:15 p.m.
He was then seen in a small parking lot at the back of the Alberton House apartment block overlooking the Irwell River.
Mr Gadd was seen walking across the car park, which had a steep descent into the Irwell River. He was not seen leaving.
David Wood, of the Greater Manchester Police, said during testimony at Stockport Coroners Court: “It would have been impossible to know that there was water under the car park.”
He was at an evening with parents Jolyon and Kimberley Gadd at The Warehouse Project in Manchester city center on 11 December last year, but later ‘fled’ from them. Above: Mr Gadd’s CCTV footage
Police conducted a ‘serious investigation’ with a large search effort across the city center after he was reported missing. They then discovered his body.
PCO Wood was present on January 10 when Mr Gadd was identified by another officer with an ID and bank card found in his wallet.
The court heard consultant-pathologist Dr Andrew Yates perform a post-mortem examination and said he could see signs corresponding to Mr. Gadd immersed in water for a long time.
A report from a toxicologist showed that he had some alcohol in his body.
Senior coroner Alison Mutch told his parents: “There was nothing you could do to change what happened, it’s one of those tragic accidents that life sometimes brings.”
She said of what she knows of Mr Gadd that he appears to be ‘delightful’ and told them: ‘He clearly burned very brightly in the time he was part of your family and he will always be part of your family. ‘
Police conducted a ‘serious investigation’ with a large search effort across the city center after he was reported missing. They then discovered his body.
She summed up the tragedy and said: ‘This is such a very, very sad situation, especially for Charley’s family who have lost a beloved son and a beloved brother. It is clear that Charley was a very intelligent young man, with a very bright future ahead of him.
‘He was very close to his parents who had a very loving relationship, they had music in common and went to various music venues together, including Wembley, Brighton and then Manchester in December.
‘It’s clear that Charley was messing around on that night and ran away and unfortunately became completely disoriented in a city he was unfamiliar with. I can only imagine the anxiety his parents felt that night looking for Charley and wondering what on earth to do. ‘
Mr Gadd, from Sudbury, Suffolk, was a student at the University of Essex.
Ms Mutch went on to say that the evidence unfortunately shows that Mr. Gadd entered the River Irwell and once in the water it was impossible to get out.
She said: ‘That time of year it would have been very challenging to get out. I’m satisfied it was a complete accident that happened as a result of a series of accidents.
“The parking lot was dark and he would have been able to see the bright lights on the other side, but would have had no idea that there was a river between him and the bright lights.”
Ms Mutch expressed her sincere condolences to her parents and the rest of her family, including her brothers.
She said although he drank alcohol, it was not on a toxic or deadly level.
“I record Charley as a result of drowning and record his death as an accidental death,” she added.
His father added: ‘He has packed a large amount into a tragically short life. I was very proud of him. I could not have been prouder. ‘