Dad dies in freak fall at beauty spot

A devoted dad died in a freak fall in front of his six-year-old daughter when he fell into a beauty spot pond, an inquest has heard. Decorator Phillip Hill was trying to reach a tree branch for his daughter when he lost his footing and fell around 20ft into the water below on October 27.

An inquest opening was told other visitors rushed to the site after hearing the young girl's screams and dialled emergency services. When paramedics arrived 48-year-old Mr Hill was dead in the water at the area known as the Blue Pool or Pwll Glas in Pontsarn, Merthyr Tydfil.

Coroner's officer Keeley Mason said other walkers reported "hearing a child screaming" and came across Mr Hill's daughter. She said: "She was able to tell them Phillip had been trying to get her a branch and slipped. He fell approximately 15-20ft into the water below. Mr Hill was located lying face down in the water. He was recovered by emergency services."

Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard Mr Hill, of Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, was pronounced dead and was later identified by his father. A cause of death has not yet been established. Senior coroner Graeme Hughes said: "Those circumstances satisfy me that Mr Hill's death was unnatural so an inquest is required. I have tasked my officers with gathering evidence in respect of the circumstances of Mr Hill's death." The coroner said he wanted to pass his condolences to the family and friends of Mr Hill as he adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

Pwll Glas in Pontsarn is a popular beauty spot for visitors including walkers and wild swimmers who can take in the clear waters below a cascading waterfall. The site is at the south of the Brecon Beacons / Bannau Brycheiniog and is part of the Taf Fechan Nature Reserve, a site of special scientific interest.

Why we cover inquests – and why it's so important that we do

As painful as these proceedings are for those who have lost a loved one the lessons that can be learned from inquests can go a long way to saving others’ lives.

The press has a legal right to attend inquests and has a responsibility to report on them as part of their duty to uphold the principle of open justice.

It’s a journalist’s duty to make sure the public understands the reasons why someone has died and to make sure their deaths are not kept secret. An inquest report can also clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding a person’s death.

But, most importantly of all, an inquest report can draw attention to circumstances which may stop further deaths from happening.

Should journalists shy away from attending inquests then an entire arm of the judicial system is not held to account.

Inquests can often prompt a wider discussion on serious issues, the most recent of these being mental health and suicide.

Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to speak to the family and friends of a person who is the subject of an inquest. Their contributions help us create a clearer picture of the person who died and also provides the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved one.

Often families do not wish to speak to the press and of course that decision has to be respected. However, as has been seen by many powerful media campaigns, the input of a person’s family and friends can make all the difference in helping to save others.

Without the attendance of the press at inquests questions will remain unanswered and lives will be lost.