A coroner has ruled that the death of Henry Theodore Keith who died 16 August, 2024, was a tragic accident. Mr Keith, who was 25 drowned during a late night dip with friends on the Norfolk Broads.
Henry was born 2 December, 1998, the second son of James Edward Keith (born 5 March, 1960), and his wife the former Victoria Rosemary Cook (born 1956), and was a descendant of the Mann baronets. He was unmarried.
He was a former schoolboy at one of Britain’s top public schools and drowned in the Norfolk Broads after diving into the water following a heavy drinking session with an old school friend.
Henry Keith, who attended Harrow School in north-west London, disappeared under the water during the late-night dip, despite being a strong swimmer.
A coroner concluded he may have banged his head while going into the water at Wroxham Broad on 16 August 2024. His body was found nearby two days later.
Sebastian Cator, a captain in the Royal Logistics Corps, told the hearing how his friend had undressed and entered the water headfirst. But he failed to resurface after diving off the rear of a launch that belonged to his father, just after it slowed to a halt.
The Old Harrovian said he heard a ‘scratching or tapping’ noise on the underside of the boat, adding: ‘My immediate reaction was that he was trying to play a prank on me. I walked around either edge of the boat and could not find him. ‘That was when I realised he was not playing a joke and began to panic.’
Mr Cator described how he called frantically for his friend – a director at the Organic Pig Company, which was founded in 1998 - but called emergency services after getting no response, leading to a large, multi-agency search.
Mr Keith’s body was recovered from the water in an ‘upright position’ just beneath the surface on 18 August 2024.
Mr Cator told Norfolk Coroner’s Court in Norwich of his heartache and regret about events leading up to the loss of one of his closest friends, explaining how he constantly replayed what had happened in his mind.
Asked by Mr Keith’s brother, Edward, why he didn’t jump in to look for him, he said: ‘I wanted to and I do not know why I did not. Maybe I should have done and I can only apologise for that.’
However, he added he would have been better able to help his friend from the boat if he had resurfaced.
Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake recorded a conclusion that the death was an accident.
But she accepted questions remained about how he came to drown when he was known to be fit and a strong swimmer.
‘He could have knocked his head on something under the water, which could have stunned him,’ she said.
The pair, who went shooting together, had begun drinking at around 3.30pm at the Swan Inn pub in Horning before heading to Mr Cator’s family’s home nearby.
His family issued an emotional tribute to him after the inquest, saying: ‘The loss of our precious Henry has created a huge void for our family and all the many friends who loved him dearly.
‘He was a caring and cheerful young man with a bright future ahead of him.’
The family thanked emergency services involved in the search for him, particularly the Hemsby lifeboat and Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue.
They added: ‘These two organisations did not rest for a moment until he was found.’
In an earlier tribute, posted with a notice of his funeral, they said: ‘Truly he was a gift from God, taken back on a golden summer day.’
The statement described him as a ‘beloved son’ of James and Vicky and an ‘adored brother’ to his four siblings.
It added: ‘The most wonderful, unique, charming and brilliant young man, universally adored. Rest in Peace darling Henry.’
Sir Edward Mann, 1st Baronet (1854-1943) > Maj William Mann (1885-1969) > Penelope Jane Mann (died 2002) > James Edward Keith (b 1960) > Henry Keith (1998-2024)
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