Man drowned after drifting out onto lake on air bed

Kristers Bednarskis died at Bawsey Country Park, near King's Lynn, on August 8, 2020. Senior coroner Jaqueline Lake heard Mr Bednarskis, a warehouse operative who lived in Peterborough, had travelled to the park with his girlfriend Gabriele Dulksnyte.

Kristers Bednarskis (second from right) with friends at a barbecue a few days before he died (Image: Ilja Jevtusenko)

The couple had been sunbathing on an inflatable mattress in shallow water at the edge of a flooded quarry, when they were carried away from the bank by the wind.

Miss Dulksnyte said in a statement she decided to swim ashore to get something to eat. When she arrived, she looked back and saw Mr Bednarskis had slipped off the mattress and was in difficulty in the water.

Emergency services on the scene at Bawsey Country Park, near King's Lynn (Image: Ian Burt Photography)

She said she called for help and a group of men swam out to try to help Mr Bednarskis but by the time they reached him he had gone beneath the surface.

Mr Bednarskis's body was later recovered by police and firefighters using a boat. A pathologist concluded he died from drowning and said he had found no traces of alcohol or drugs in his system.

A sign at Bawsey Country Park warns people to stay out of the water (Image: Archant)

In a statement read out at the hearing Stephen Bacon, who bought the former Bawsey Pits in 2016, said he had improved signage around the lakes and employed a warden.

A 41-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy died at the park on the same day in July 2013.

West Norfolk council health and safety officers carried out an investigation after Mr Bednarskis's death. Community safety manager Andy Nederpel said there was clear evidence Mr Bacon had carried out improvements to the site and was doing "all he reasonably can".

Children and families swimming in the small lake at Bawsey Pits Country Park. (Image: Archant)

He added: "The only way to avoid another drowning at Bawsey Country Park is for the public to follow the rules."

Mrs Lake concluded Mr Bednarskis's death was misadventure. She added: "People do have to take responsibility for their own safety. If there are warning signs, they are there for a reason and should not be flouted by the public."

A warning sign in the car park at Bawsey Country Park (Image: Archant)