Kimberley Johnson, 33, went for a swim while at a local reservoir with her partner – but vanished beneath the water moments later where she was found dead by rescue teams
A mum-of-three who drowned in a local reservoir told her partner “I can’t do it” moments before disappearing beneath the water, an inquest opening has heard.
Kimberley Johnson, 33, had been swimming at Strinesdale River with her partner on the afternoon of Saturday, August 17, when tragedy struck. The hearing was told she had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis before entering the water. Ms Johnson, a machine operator who was born in Rochdale and lived in Oldham, decided to go for a swim while at the beauty spot with her partner, Daniel. Police coroner’s officer Cathy Dickson told the court that after swimming for a short while, she suddenly told him: “I can’t do it.” He attempted to reach her, but was unable to pull her to safety.
Emergency services were called at around 4pm. Strinesdale Reservoir, which sits off the A62 between Oldham and Delph, was quickly sealed off as police, paramedics and specialist water rescue teams raced to the scene. A major search operation was launched, with the fire service’s water incident unit brought in to assist.
Search underway for missing Brit James Nunan as yacht and dog discovered off Gran Canaria without him
The rescue effort continued for more than two hours before a woman’s body was recovered from the water at 6.25pm. Fingerprint checks later confirmed her identity as Kimberley Louise Johnson. Following her death, tributes were paid to the 33-year-old, described as an “amazing” mother to her three children. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that her death was not being treated as suspicious.
Opening the inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, September 2, coroner Michael Salt said evidence so far indicated Ms Johnson entered the reservoir voluntarily but got into difficulty. Her partner’s attempts to save her were unsuccessful, and despite the rapid response of emergency crews, she could not be revived.
The inquest heard that she had been enjoying the day with her partner before deciding to enter the reservoir. Ms Dickson repeated that both had consumed alcohol and cannabis earlier in the day, Manchester Evening News reports. She said: “They’d drunk some alcohol and smoked cannabis. She decided to go for a swim. She swam for a while and then said something like, ‘I can’t do it’. He tried to reach out and grab her but could not do it.”
Proceedings were adjourned until December 16, when a full inquest will take place.
