Tragedy of boy, 14, with autism and 'strong attraction' to water who ran away and drowned

A much-loved 14 year-old boy with severe learning difficulties and a 'strong attraction' to water drowned in a river after he ran off from his grandparents' house, an inquest heard.

Luke Howe, who had ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, was found dead in the River Bollin, near Ashley Road in Hale, Trafford, on January 19 this year. His family said he was impulsive with a lack of fear, and often got into dangerous situations without knowing it.

The inquest heard Luke, from Sale, went to the toilet after dinner. When he didn't return to the room the family were in his grandfather noticed the front door was open, with a key they kept high up in the lock and a 'fidget' toy Luke was playing with on the toilet on a nearby radiator.

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Police were called and friends, family, neighbours and even Luke's teachers went out to look for him in freezing temperatures with torches.

Witnesses who drove past Luke reported seeing him running along nearby roads in the area with his school uniform on. Sadly, the inquest heard his body was found in the River Bollin by a police diver the next day.

Luke's father, James Howe, told the inquest of his son's regular 'escaping' - behaviour he said that 'stayed with him over the years, particularly when he was in an excited state'.

He told of escapes he made from his home and from his specialist school in Sale, Brentwood Community College.

"Running off and escaping continued to be a strong impulse for him," said Mr Howe. He said his son's conditions made him impulsive with a lack of fear and said he often got into dangerous situations without even realising it.

Mr Howe said Luke had a 'strong attraction' to water and detailed a number of previous occasions when he had ran off and jumped into canals or rivers, saying he was also excited when the emergency services attended.

He was also hospitalised several times after swallowing coins, the inquest heard.

Mr Howe said: "We think it is likely that he made his way directly to the river and as he has done in the past, entered the water impulsively without realising the danger."

He described Luke as a 'joyful' boy who would speak to everyone he met and loved Harry Potter. "He loved spending time with his family," Mr Howe told the inquest.

"He managed to make me smile even when we were in hospital. Luke was a real character who was well known in the area. He hated staying in the house. He liked going camping and on holidays together. Luke loved spending time with both sets of his grandparents. He was a very cuddly boy. He was really a very loving person.

"His death has been a huge loss to his family and everyone who knew him. He is very sadly missed and is in our hearts everyday."

Mr Howe said Luke was 'really happy' and was 'really well supported' at school. He said he loved the outdoors, music and to climb, but was also 'extremely good at figuring out doors and locks'.

The inquest heard Luke was reviewed by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service every three months and had a carer. He was also prescribed a range of medication. The inquest heard the family believed his care package was due to be increased at the end of the January.

Mr Howe detailed the huge lengths the family went to to keep Luke safe. They fitted chiming sensors to all the doors and used internal locks, key safes and window locks.

Detective Inspector Richard Lees, from Trafford CID, said he couldn't rule out whether Luke had slipped or jumped in from a bridge. The tragic death, he added, wasn't treated as suspicious.

There were steep embankments on either side of the stretch of the river where Luke was found and the temperature was 'extremely cold' with ice on the ground, he added. After giving his evidence, Det Insp Lees said police officers try to put emotion aside, but Luke's death had touched a lot of people.

A pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination gave a cause of death as drowning. The inquest at Stockport Coroner's Court is listed for three days.

• Proceeding.