Teen died after becoming submerged by river current during Duke of Edinburgh expedition

News imageFamily photo Umar Dumbuya is looking at the camera with a smile. He is wearing a white t-shirt and braided hairFamily photo
Umar Dumbuya's family said he would be remembered for "his kindness, warmth and sense of humour"

A teenager died after becoming submerged by the current in the River Wye during a Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition (DofE), an inquest has heard.

Umar Dumbuya, 18, from London, had been hiking near Glasbury in Powys on 30 June.

Emergency services were called to the popular bathing spot following reports "a male had entered the water and could not be located".

A post-mortem examination was carried out at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant on 9 July, where no provisional cause of death was given, pending further investigation.

The inquest opening in Pontypridd heard how Umar was taking part in the DofE expedition when he entered the River Wye and got into difficulty.

He "became submerged by the current and failed to resurface", the hearing was told.

He was later identified by one of his teachers.

Kerrie Burge, coroner for South Wales Central, said: "I am satisfied it is necessary to open an inquest into the death of Mr Dumbuya, because the circumstances suggest his death is unnatural."

She offered her condolences to his family and adjourned the inquest until a date to be fixed.

News imageStones at the side of the River Wye with a bunch of flowers left on them. The flowers are in focus and the river and bridge are blurred.
A floral tribute was seen on the banks of the River Wye in Glasbury last week following the death of the 18-year-old

They said they were "heartbroken by the loss of our son, brother and grandson", adding they would remember his "kindness, warmth and sense of humour".

Leyton Sixth Form College, where Umar was a student, said its community were "deeply saddened" by his death.

A spokesperson for DofE said the organisation was "liaising closely with the young person's college and relevant authorities to understand how this tragic incident happened".