Inquest over triple lake tragedy

Sep 29 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

THE mystery of how three young Midland Sikhs drowned in a devastating triple tragedy at a Lake District beauty spot is finally set to be solved at an inquest next month.

The hearing into the tragic deaths of 21-year-old Tajinder Singh Gill, his cousin Satvir Singh, 17, and 15-year-old Harvinder Singh Bisran, all from Wolverhampton, will be held more than a year since the deaths sent shockwaves through the Sikh community.

Today it was revealed that the inquest will be held on 10.30 am on October 24 at the Council Chambers in Kendal, Cumbria.

The inquest will be held in front of Ian Smith, Coroner for South and East Cumbria, with four witnesses due to give evidence at the hearing.

Tajinder, of Lower Villiers Street; Harvinder, of Marston Road, both Blakenhall, and Satvir, of Rosemary Crescent West, Goldthorn Hill, drowned on September 23 last year when they were sucked down into the murky depths of beautiful Ullswater.

The three were among a 20-strong party who had arrived at Patterdale Youth Hostel shortly before an idyllic late summer's day turned to tragedy.

They checked in and were said to be in high spirits before walking the mile to Glenridding, at the edge of Ullswater.

The friends hired three motor boats which they brought safely to shore before half a dozen of the group wandered off to play at the water's edge.

It is believed they waded into the water but quickly got out of their depth as the silt shelf fell steeply away, plunging them into water more than 20ft deep.

One of the three went under the water and the two others tried to save him, but they all perished together.

The beauty spot where the three lost their lives is known locally as Jenkins Field, with Ullswater surrounded by peaks and fells.

The whole Sikh community across the West Midlands was left in a state of shock over the tragedy.

All three who lost their lives worshipped at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Blakenall.