Boy, 16, beach drowning was 'misadventure' - coroner

A vulnerable teenager who went missing while on holiday drowned after going into the sea, an inquest has heard.

A verdict of "misadventure" was recorded on Athrun Lombardo, 16, who disappeared from Llandudno's West Shore in May 2025 while staying in the area with his family.

He had been visiting a quiet part of the beach with his father and younger brother, on the afternoon he was last seen.

The teenager from Emersons Green, Bristol was autistic and had complex needs including dyspraxia which affects physical co-ordination.

A major search involving police, the lifeboat service, HM Coastguard and search and rescue dogs was launched to find him.

Athrun was last seen wearing only swimming shorts.

His body was found four days later in the sea and recovered by Conwy lifeboat crew.

Athrun, his parents and brother had been staying in holiday accommodation while visiting his grandparents.

An inquest into his death at Denbighshire coroner's court, Ruthin heard from his mother Catherine who said: "He seemed to be planning for his immediate and intermediate future and there was no warning that I'd see him alive for the last time at 2pm that day."

Athrun's father Dean had taken his two sons to the beach and had chosen a quieter part of West Shore.

He provided a statement which said he had directed Athrun to walk towards the sea while he was busy applying sunscreen to his younger son.

He said he "had no reason to be concerned" and that Athrun was "allowed time to wander around to help him with his independence."

He said the younger boy went to join his brother but returned upset when he couldn't see him.

Catherine Lombardo said in her statement that when she arrived at the beach about two hours after her son was last seen, her younger child said he had seen him "running towards the sea" which was unusual because he didn't normally run anywhere.

Athrun was being treated for depression and had previously told a psychiatrist about wanting to drown himself in the sea.

But his mother said that his mood had enjoyed a "boost" by travelling to Llandudno.

John Gittins, senior coroner for north Wales east and central, concluded that Athrun died from drowning as a result of misadventure and that it was not his intention to harm himself.

He said: "I have nothing supporting that this was a deliberate act on his part by which he meant to bring his life to an end."