A CORONER has praised the efforts of the emergency services, friends, family and members of the public who attempted to rescue 12-year-old Charlotte Saunders from the swollen River Ockment after she was swept downstream on her horse.

Speaking at an inquest in Okehampton yesterday, Greater Devon Coroner Richard van Oppen said it was a 'tragedy' that Charlotte was unable to be rescued after her pony Jake lost its footing at a ford at Fatherford Viaduct on October 26, last year.

The post-mortem examination on the Okehampton College pupil's body confirmed she had died by drowning and Mr van Oppen recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest heard how Charlotte, a keen and competent rider, had left East Lake Riding Stables, Belstone at around 12.15pm that day with her friend Jade Coaker, 15. The girls, who regularly took rides together, had spent the morning cleaning the stables, owned by Charlotte's father David, and feeding and grooming the horses.

In Jade's statement which was read out by the coroner, the teenager said the route through to Fatherford and on to Dartmoor was well known to her and Charlotte and it had never been a difficult experience crossing the river.

On this occasion they noted the river was running faster than normal but there had been heavy rain overnight and earlier that morning, the inquest heard.

Jade said Charlotte and her pony — 'a strong and good tempered animal' — were almost halfway across the river when Jake began to be swept downstream with Charlotte still in the saddle.

Jake's rear end was facing downstream and he was trying to move back up the river, she said.

'I panicked and started shouting at Charlotte and giving her instructions to move back to a safer part of the river,' said Jade. 'I called to her to jump off but the force of the river was sweeping them further down.'

Before emergency services arrived at the scene, Jade and some passers-by searched for Charlotte further down the river but to no avail.

They were joined by Charlotte's father, who said in a statement that the river was almost the highest he had ever seen.

Mr Saunders, who was with fire officers and a search and rescue team from RAF Chivenor as they attempted to locate Charlotte, said it was obvious to him that anyone who entered the water at that time was at risk of harm.

'But all I wanted to do was to get in myself and find my daughter,' he said.

Charlotte's body was eventually located after a coat and riding hat were discovered in the water.

Ropes were tied at each end of the bridge near Okehampton College and fireman used ladders to get down into the river.

Winchman Sergeant Neil Harrison from RAF Chivenor said he and a fire officer managed to retrieve Cahrlotte's body.

Mr van Oppen paid tribute to Jade Coaker, David Saunders, the RAF team, emergency services and members of the public who were involved in the rescue attempt.

'It is a huge tragedy she was unable to be rescued — I express my deepest sympathy to the family,' he said.