Man with learning difficulties died on day trip to reservoir

An inquest has opened into the death of a man with severe learning difficulties who died on a day trip to a reservoir.

Majid Akhtar, of Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, was 28 when he died at King's Mill reservoir on September 10 2012.

He was on an activity day from Springwood Day Centre in Mapperley, Nottingham, when he died.

Opening the inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court, assistant coroner Andrew McNamara said the family had been waiting an "awfully long time" to find out the circumstances of Mr Akhtar's death.

A jury of eight men and three women were told that Mr Ahktar was taking part in water sports with other people at the centre on the day he died.

He had joined in with the activities in the morning, but it was suggested he did not want to go back on the water in the afternoon as he had taken his buoyancy aid off.

Mr McNamara said: "He set off with a care worker (for a walk). They set off around the perimeter path of the reservoir.

"He travelled about three-quarters of the way around the perimeter path and at some point, unfortunately, he fell out of view and he was then subsequently found by two people who were walking their dog at the reservoir."

Paramedics were called to the scene and attempts made to revive him, but Mr Akhtar was pronounced dead at King's Mill Hospital, Sutton in Ashfield.

The jurors were taken to the reservoir on Thursday morning. The inquest is expected to last two weeks.