Grieving father in quarry safety call
Nov 12 2007 by jl reporter1, The Journal
THE father of a popular teenager who drowned in a flooded quarry has called for improved safety at the site.
Daniel Cardwell, 15, of Cotswold Drive, Whitley Bay, died earlier this year when he waded into the icy waters of Marden Quarry in North Tyneside.
At an inquest last month, a pathologist reported that the Monkseaton High School pupil had more than two-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit in his body, though no drugs were found in his blood.
Yesterday marked eight months to the day since Daniel went missing – a day his father marks each month by floating flowers on the quarry water.
Speaking to The Journal for the first time since the tragic death of his young son, John Cardwell, 43, of Park Grove, Shiremoor, said he wanted improved safety measures taken to prevent future deaths.
He added: “I do want people to learn from this. I know kids drink at that age but Daniel’s death was a tragic accident. It is something that we will never get over.
“Daniel went to all the schools I went to, he did all the things that I did as a kid. I went down to the quarry when I was his age.
“I know that young lads and lasses are going to drink, there’s nothing we can do to stop them, but they need to stick together and stay with their friends. This needs to be a warning to other kids.
“When I was a kid the quarry was deep, but now it’s only waist deep. Maybe because the council think it’s only shallow they don’t think it needs safety equipment, but they need to put up signs and fencing.”
In a moving interview, Mr Cardwell spoke of the devastating loss of his only son, paying tribute to the teenager.
He said: “He was just a brilliant kid. You couldn’t have met a nicer lad. The boy was my life – he was my best friend.
“He was the sort of kid who would make any father proud. Everyone loved him to bits.
“He had a girlfriend when he died and she was the best thing that ever happened to Daniel.”
At the time of his death, Daniel lived with his mother, Marie Cardwell, 42, at their home on Cotswold Drive, Whitley Bay.
Mr Cardwell, who now lives with his partner Lea Turner, 30, and their five-year-old daughter Georgia in Shiremoor, also spoke of life without the youngster.
He said: “The whole thing has been horrific. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else because no other parent should have to go through this.”
A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “The council is always open to consider ways to improve safety.
“We will be reviewing the coroner’s report to see if any lessons can be learned from the recent inquest that confirmed Daniel’s death was a tragic accident in which alcohol consumption was a key factor.”
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To read previous Journal stories on the tragic death of Daniel Cardwell, click the links below
Drink led to drowning of 15-year-old
