A man has lost his life after trying to win 100 pounds challenged to swim across a river, but unfortunately drowned in it.
Thomas Bebbington died diving in the river to win the challenge
A man has jumped into a river to win a 100 pounds challenge. Thomas Bebbington, 22, allegedly drowned after two men offered him the cash to swim across the River Severn in November last year, according to his friend Jack Jones.
He was approached to take up the challenge after sitting on some steps outside a former prison in Shrewsbury.
After accepting the bet, he entered the river and tragically disappeared beneath the surface after “five or six strokes”, the inquest heard.
Later, his body was found downstream on December 6. According to Shropshire Coroner John Ellery, he was declared to have died through misadventure and the cause of death is due to immersion into the river because of toxicity from methadone, heroin, cannabis and cocaine.
Friend Mr Jones told the hearing how he and Mr Bebbington had been sleeping rough at the time.
He said: "Me and him used to be homeless on the streets for some months.
“We became best mates.
"The two Liverpudlian men said to Tom, 'I will give you £100 to jump in this water and swim from this side to that one and back'.
"He went in and started swimming. I think it was after about five or six strokes I started shouting his name, but I couldn't get a response."