Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2026
Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2026-0117, written 26 Feb 2026. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.
| Date of report | 26 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 2026-0117 |
| Deceased | William Webb |
| Coroner | Victoria Davies |
| Coroner area | Cheshire |
| Category | Other related deaths |
| Source | judiciary.uk record · original PDF |
| Responses published | none published |
Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.
Date: 23 April 2026 HM Coroner Davies Cheshire Coroner’s Court Museum Street Warrington Cheshire WA1 1 JX Dear HM Coroner Davies, Thank you for your report to Canal & River Trust (the “Trust”) concerning the death of Mr William Elvis Webb and for setting out your concerns. I am responding on the Trust’s behalf. As indicated in the Trust’s initial response (dated 3rd of February 2026) to your questions preceding the Inquest, the land surrounding the Shropshire Union Canal in the vicinity of the University accommodation, and crucially where Mr Webb entered the water, is not owned by the Trust. This presents a number of challenges and limits the actions we are able to take directly. Notwithstanding and following the Inquest and the concerns raised in the Regulation 28 Report (dated 26th February 2026), the Trust has taken the following actions: • I met with Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service and Lisa O’Neill (Mr Webb’s mother) on the 13th of March to better understand the location of, and circumstances leading to the tragedy. This meeting was vital in understanding Mr Webb’s approach to the Canal immediately before the tragedy, along with the risks to water safety presented by the wider public realm and to determine the family’s views. • The Trust is currently working with the Cheshire Water Safety Partnership (the “WSP”), Cheshire Fire & Rescue Services and Cheshire West & Chester Council to determine the ownership of the land surrounding the Shropshire and Union Canal, in the vicinity of the University accommodation and the location where Mr Webb entered the water, in order to determine what can be done. • Consequently and to address the specific risks presented by the public realm over which the Trust has no control, I have, on behalf of the Trust, requested the WSP’s support in writing to relevant riparian owners of the land surrounding the Shropshire and Union Canal, inviting them to a meeting to discuss what further steps can be taken collectively, or on an individual basis to provide additional mitigation of water safety risks in this area. Layout of the public realm, signage, lighting and the provision of Personal Rescue Equipment are to be raised, the necessity and benefit of which will be considered alongside issues such as the depth of the water and the height of the freeboard. We will work proactively with the WSP and the relevant landowners to identify where such measures may be implemented/improved and provide advice and assistance where we are able to do so. Such a meeting will take place by September 2026. 0 11 • The Trust shares the consensus with RoSPA, RLSS and the Fire & Rescue Services that education and prevention have proved to be the most effective tools in improving water safety. The Trust run an extensive range of annual campaigns, both individually and in conjunction with partners across the 13 water safety partnerships we are involved with across the region. We also run focussed campaigns which we have developed and adapted where areas of risk have become apparent. Following this tragedy the Trust, along with the support of others (including the WSG and the RNLI), will be approaching the University of Chester with the specific aim of working with them to provide targeted, effective and educational water safety campaigns to its students. • By the start of the new term in September 2026, in conjunction with the University, we aim to have in place a series of targeted events which brings home to the students the dangers and risks associated with the Canal, and waterways generally, especially under the influence of alcohol or substances and when walking home alone. • The Trust will update HM Coroner and the family of Mr. Webb on progress of the above actions. Yours faithfully Director, North West Canal & River Trust National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FW T 0303 040 4040 E canalrivertrust.org.uk/contact-us Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. Canal & River Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 7807276 and registered charity number 1146792, registered office address National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FW 1 11
Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 1 Canal & River Trust 1 CORONER I am Victoria DAVIES, Area Coroner for the coroner area of Cheshire 2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 26 November 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of William Anthony Elvis WEBB aged 21. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 20 February 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was: Accident 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH William Webb was found deceased in the Shropshire Union canal by Earles Port, Chester, on 24 November 2025. He had been reported missing by his mother at around 21.55 on 23 November, as he had been out drinking with friends the previous night and had not returned home. CCTV footage shows William walking along a path which then continues around behing a building and runs alongside the canal at around 04.30 on 23 November, before likely accidentally falling into the canal. Unfortunately, his efforts to self-rescue were unsuccessful and William died by drowning on 23 November 2025. 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern) The area in which Mr Webb fell into the canal is close to student accommodation. Whilst this is a generalisation and is by no means all students, students as a group are within the demographic of people who will attend the bars, pubs and nightclubs of Chester and become inebriated to varying degrees. Once under the influence of alcohol, or perhaps another substance, it is then not inconceivable that they then take less care/ are more willing to engage in risky behaviours. The canal is near to their accommodation, which makes it more likely that they will be in that area. Once in the water, there is currently no safety equipment which could assist someone in getting out, whether they are in accidentally or intentionally, and the distance between the water level and the ground edge (the freeboard) is, in my view, such that it would be difficult to get out without assistance. There is also no signage nearby which alerts people to the potential risks. I heard varying evidence as to the depth of the water, with the police describing it as around 5ft, and the Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 Canal and River Trust indicating it was around 1 metre. 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by April 23, 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. COPIES and PUBLICATION 8 I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons The family of Mr Webb. I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 9 Dated: 26/02/2026 Victoria DAVIES Area Coroner for Cheshire Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021
Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS NOTE: This form is to be used after an inquest. REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: 1 Canal & River Trust 1 CORONER I am Victoria DAVIES, Area Coroner for the coroner area of Cheshire 2 CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 3 INVESTIGATION and INQUEST On 26 November 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of William Anthony Elvis WEBB aged 21. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 20 February 2026. The conclusion of the inquest was: Accident 4 CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH William Webb was found deceased in the Shropshire Union canal by Earles Port, Chester, on 24 November 2025. He had been reported missing by his mother at around 21.55 on 23 November, as he had been out drinking with friends the previous night and had not returned home. CCTV footage shows William walking along a path which then continues around behing a building and runs alongside the canal at around 04.30 on 23 November, before likely accidentally falling into the canal. Unfortunately, his efforts to self-rescue were unsuccessful and William died by drowning on 23 November 2025. 5 CORONER’S CONCERNS During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: (brief summary of matters of concern) The area in which Mr Webb fell into the canal is close to student accommodation. Whilst this is a generalisation and is by no means all students, students as a group are within the demographic of people who will attend the bars, pubs and nightclubs of Chester and become inebriated to varying degrees. Once under the influence of alcohol, or perhaps another substance, it is then not inconceivable that they then take less care/ are more willing to engage in risky behaviours. The canal is near to their accommodation, which makes it more likely that they will be in that area. Once in the water, there is currently no safety equipment which could assist someone in getting out, whether they are in accidentally or intentionally, and the distance between the water level and the ground edge (the freeboard) is, in my view, such that it would be difficult to get out without assistance. There is also no signage nearby which alerts people to the potential risks. I heard varying evidence as to the depth of the water, with the police describing it as around 5ft, and the Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 Canal and River Trust indicating it was around 1 metre. 6 ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action. 7 YOUR RESPONSE You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, namely by April 23, 2026. I, the coroner, may extend the period. Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. COPIES and PUBLICATION 8 I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested Persons The family of Mr Webb. I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or of interest. The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response about the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 9 Dated: 26/02/2026 Victoria DAVIES Area Coroner for Cheshire Regulation 28 – After Inquest Document Template Updated 30/07/2021
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