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News Triathlon death ‘a tragic accident’


FIT young man Paul Gallihawk drowned taking part in Ocean Lake charity event, a Maidstone inquest heard.


The 34-year-oldwas a keen sports-


man who regularly played football. Hehad taken part in a half marathon and other running events. He had been training for his first triathlon at Leybourne Lakes onAu- gust bank holidayweekend last year and, although nervous,was looking forward to taking part. Mr Gallihawk, who lived with his partner Hayley Wright in Postmill Drive, Tovil,wanted to raise money for King’s College Hospital, where his father Malcolm had been treated the previous year. Hayley raised the alarm when Mr Gallihawk failed to emerge from the water at the end of the 750-metre swim in the Ocean Lake Triathlon onAugust 29, 2015. Asearch of the lake with boats and


scuba divers failed to find Mr Galli- hawk, who worked for a sales re- cruitment company. The Kent Fire and Rescue Service


joined the search, along with volun- teers from Kent Search and Rescue, but itwas not until 9.30am on Mon- day,August 31, that MrGallihawk’s


Charity shop


needs help VOLUNTEERS are needed at the Demelza charity shop in the Royal Star Arcade, Maidstone to help raise funds for children’s hospice care. The store needs help with every-


thing from working on the till and advising customers to sorting and presenting merchandise and organ- ising donations. Demelza voluntary services officer


Sue Brown said: “Our volunteers perform an essential role andwe are so grateful for their support.Aswell as helping a great cause, volunteer- ing is a chance to meet people, have fun and develop skills.” Application forms are available in


store or at www.demelza.org.uk. Alternatively, contact Sue at sue.brown@demelza.org.uk or call 01795 845265 for more details.


Summer drama OPEN-AIR theatre returns to the Maidstone area this summer with the Changeling Theatre offering a choice of Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well and Oliver Gold- smith’s She Stoops to Conquer. The season opens at Boughton Monchelsea Place on Friday, July 1. Other Maidstone area locations in- clude The Friars, Aylesford, Egerton House, Great Comp Gar- den at Platt and Tithe Barn, Lenham. For details go to www.changeling-theatre.com


20 Maidstone East May 2016


for 10 years and took daily medica- tion to keep the condition at bay, the inquest heard.Healso suffered from Crohn’s disease but this was un- likely to have contributed to his death, said Dr Rouse. The inquest heard that therewere


seven kayakers watching the group of 108 swimmers, aswell as a safety boat with a crew of two on board. One man was pulled from the


Paul Gallihawk


bodywas discovered by a dive team brought in from Norfolk. Mr Gallihawk’s body was found


seven metres deep in the lake, 87 metres from the start of the race. Pathologist Dr David Rouse found


the cause of death to be immersion. Therewere no marks or signs of in- jury on Mr Gallihawk’s body and therewas nothing to suggest he had been injured or suffered a fit. Mr Gallihawk did suffer from epilepsy, but had not had a seizure


water after getting into difficulties, but nobody sawMrGallihawk,who was swimming with the less-confi- dent contingent, disappear. He had been suffering from dizzy


spells and, a few weeks before the triathlon, consultant neurologist Dr Jonathan Chan foundMrGallihawk may have suffered a vasovagal (fainting) episode and advised him to increase his salt andwater intake, particularly while hewas in training. Dr Rouse told the inquest: “If Mr Gallihawk had suffered a fainting episode, it would not be evident from the postmortem examination.” Although Mr Gallihawk was not an experienced open water swim-


mer, thewaterwas not cold enough to cause hypothermia and he was wearing awet suit. Dr Rouse said: “Unfortunately, the


post mortem only gives us possibili- ties, rather than probabilities.” Mr Gallihawk’s parents Malcolm


and Linda, who attended the in- quest,were concerned at the amount of weed in the lake, but coroner Pa- tricia Harding assured them the weeds were well below the level of the swimmers, with six metres of clearwater above. Following the inquest, Mr Galli-


hawk Snr, from Leeds, said he felt questions remained unanswered. “It’s not the outcome we were hoping for,” he said. The coroner said she was unable


to determine how exactly Mr Galli- hawk had drowned but recorded a verdict of accidental death. She said: “The death of this young,


fit man was a tragic accident. How- ever, Ido not have concerns that any further deaths may occur. It was a very great tragedy that he died the way that he did.”


Volunteers plea to boost profile of river


VOLUNTEERS are needed to help turn the Maidstone stretch of the Medway into a tourist attraction. The Maidstone River Park was one


of a lasting legacy of projects, funded partly by the National Lot- tery, to celebrate the millennium and comprises a 10km walk along the river, from Teston Country Park to Allington. The idea of raising the profile of


the River Medway in Maidstone and the activities centred around it was a key part of the council’s destina- tion management plan (DMP). Now, a group of individuals has


taken up the reins and set up a trust, but they need more practical help. The Maidstone River Park Trust is


a volunteer community group, but the trustees hope to establish a community interest company to support its activities longer term.


Chairman Ian Tucker said: “Our


aim is to make the river an attrac- tion in its own right and an impor- tant part of the visitor experience in Maidstone.” Volunteers fromthe trust will work


closely with the Environment Agency, Kent County Council, Maid- stone Council and others to main- tain and promote “the borough’s greatest natural asset”, according to Mr Tucker.


The Environment Agency has of-


fered to clean up the section of the river between Teston and Allington Lock and the group is now looking for community support for a five- day clean-up along the banks be- tween Lockmeadow and Whatman Park. The River Park Project has already


been allocated £1m from Maid- stone Council to create a cycle path the length of the river, linking Barm- ing and Allington, which will include a cycle hub at Lockmeadow. The Medway Valley Countryside


Partnership, which is dedicated to environmental conservation in Maidstone and Malling, will also play a part in the project. Anyone who would like to get in-


volved can contact the group via the website or email info@maidstone riverpark.co.uk.


Grant for repairs to ScoutHQ Blaze rescue


MEMBERS of St Luke’s Scout Group were thrilled to hear that The Big Lottery Fund has granted them almost £10,000 to renovate their headquarters in Heathorn Street, Maidstone. The building, which dates back


to 1961, needs new windows and a new roof. More than 100 young people aged from six to 18 use it everyweek. The fundraising team has been


working hard for two years to raise funds for the group to enable more young people to take part in activ- ities, camps and weekly meetings and this grant is a huge boost to their efforts. St Luke’s Scout Group is run by volunteers. Anyone who wants to get involved should call Group Scout Leader Gavin Mills on 07970 939668 or email gsl@stlukesmaid- stonesouts.org.uk


AN elderly man was rescued from his home in Bearsted after a blaze. When fire crews arrived at the bungalow in Lambourne Road an elderly woman was outside with two care workers. Firefighters then carried the elderly man to safety. He was given oxygen and first


aid before being taken to hospital. The elderly woman and both care workerswere also taken to hospital for checks after breathing in smoke.


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