“Myron Instinctively Reacted to Save Her” Teen Falls to Death in Quarry Tragedy

A teenage boy tragically fell from a quarry cliff while instinctively trying to help a friend, an inquest heard. Myron Davies, 15, was pronounced dead at the scene after the incident at Abersychan quarry on July 6, 2022. A 14-year-old girl, who also fell, was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in critical condition.

The inquest at Newport Coroner’s Court concluded that the incident was a “tragic accident.” Coroner Caroline Saunders stated that Myron reacted to save his friend, who fell from a ledge just moments before he did. Despite initial rumors, Ms. Saunders emphasized that there was no evidence of third-party involvement or any intent by Myron to harm himself, reported BBC.

The court heard from witness Lloyd Whitelock, who observed the incident from his garden. Although visibility was limited, his testimony helped police reconstruct the events. Whitelock described seeing a person near the edge of the quarry around 6:30 pm. He initially thought it was one individual but realized there were two when they fell. He stated, “I was in total shock and called 999. Having processed it properly, there were two people and I’m sure they did not jump.”

The teenage girl, whose identity remains protected, told police she had little recollection of the incident but had some flashbacks. She confirmed that neither she nor Myron intended to harm themselves and that they visited the quarry to admire the view after school.

Detective Chief Inspector Leigh Holborn, responsible for the investigation, noted that the quarry was a popular spot for young people. He explained that fencing has since been erected to restrict access. Based on witness accounts, he suggested that the girl was on a slightly lower ledge and slipped, prompting Myron to try and help her. Holborn stated, “Myron has gone over.

A thought process is that [the teenage girl] has slipped and Myron has gone to try and help her—an automatic reaction when someone trips in front of you.” Holborn added that the girl’s fall was partially broken by the quarry and branches, whereas Myron’s likely was not. He described Myron as a “happy boy” with no mental health concerns and noted that Myron was looking forward to the future, having charged his laptop for school the next day.

Holborn concluded, “From the messages I have read [between Myron and his friend] there was nothing to suggest a suicide pact.” Coroner Saunders confirmed Myron’s cause of death as “multiple injuries caused by a fall” and reiterated that his death was a “tragic accident.” She remarked, “Myron instinctively reacted to save her and in the process fell himself. The edge of the quarry is a dangerous place to be. Children can be blind to these dangers and take more risks than adults.”

Myron’s mother, Sarah, previously spoke of her anguish while waiting for answers. In May 2024, she told WalesOnline, “He meant the world to me. He was the most outgoing and happy person you could ever meet. Everyone who knew him loved being around him.”