'Loving' teen's river death was tragic accident

AUTISTIC YOUNGSTER HAD NO REGARD’ FOR RISKS, SAYS CORONER

- CHRIS SLATER

THE death of a 'happy and loving' teenager who drowned after running away from his grandparents' house was a tragic accident, a coroner has ruled.

Luke Howe is 'likely to have acted on impulse in the context of emotional dysregulation' and 'without any appreciation of or regard to the risks inherent in being in or near water on a cold, dark night, Area Coroner Chris Morris said.

Luke, 14, from Sale, who had ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, was found dead in the River Bollin, near Ashley Road in Hale, on January 19 this year.

He had vanished from his grandparents' home, in Hale, just before 6.15pm the previous evening. Police were called and friends, family, neighbours and even Luke's teachers went out to look for him in freezing temperatures with torches.