The grieving family of a Team GB diving coach who worked with Tom Daley are waiting for documents about his mystery death in Turkey before an inquest can begin.
Former Team GB Olympic diving trainer David Jenkins, 31, was found dead on October 9 last year- but the circumstances are still unclear, a hearing was told today.
Mr Jenkins worked with Daley, a Great Britain Olympic gold medalist, and was part of Team GB’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic training squad.
David’s grieving family are waiting for documents about his mystery death in Turkey before an inquest can begin (Pictured with wife Melinda)
Highly-respected coach David Jenkins (pictured), 31, who had worked with diving star Tom Daley, died on October 9 last year under unclear circumstances
David was the Development Lead Coach for Dive London, overseeing the progress of the next generation of elite athletes at the London Aquatics Centre (LAC) (Pictured with Tom Daley in February 2019)
He played an ‘instrumental role’ in the Tom Daley Diving Academy before his death.
Coroner Andrew Walker told the hearing at North London Coroner’s Court revealed that the Foreign Office has asked the Turkish authorities for the relevant documents, but that it could still take several months for them to arrive.
David Jenkins worked with Tom Daley (pictured)
Members of his family, who said they live around the corner from the court in Barnet, watched the hearing via video link and asked Mr Walker questions about the inquest process.
Mr Walker told them the court is waiting for the Foreign Office to receive a police report, post-mortem report and toxicology report from Turkey.
He said: ‘Members of the family, we have now heard from the coroner liaison officer in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and it is their responsibility to make requests for the necessary paperwork before the inquest can take place.’
Mr Walker said the court made the request to the FCDO for the paperwork on May 9 2022, with the FCDO saying it can take six to nine months to arrive.
‘It does take a long period of time to get the material we need from other countries,’ Mr Walker said.
‘There is nothing unusual about this but it does mean that there will be a delay for matters to be listed for an inquest.’
Mr Walker scheduled another hearing for 2pm on December 15, saying it will either be another mention or updated to an inquest if the necessary material has arrived beforehand.
Mr Walker said the court made the request to the FCDO for the paperwork on May 9 2022, with the FCDO saying it can take six to nine months to arrive (Pictured: David with wife Melinda)
He said the family will be notified if the hearing will be a full inquest.
A member of the family asked: ‘If it becomes an inquest, do you need to hear from people who were with David at the time?’
The coroner said it would be helpful for the family to provide a list of the people so the court could approach them for their account of the events that led to Mr Jenkin’s death.
Another member asked to be taken through the process as it ‘would help us just to prepare ourselves emotionally’.
Mr Walker proceeded to explain that he will hear the evidence and likely deliver a conclusion on the day it is listed.
Two days after Mr Jenkin’s death, British Swimming released a statement its website saying: ‘All our thoughts and condolences go out to David’s wife, family and friends, and we please ask that their privacy, and that of the British Diving community, be respected at this difficult time.
‘We will be working closely with staff and athletes who have been affected by this awful news.’
David played an instrumental role in the Tom Daley Diving Academy, where he gave lessons to thousands of children across the country as part of the Learn To Dive campaign (Pictured: Tom Daley and Matty Lee compete in the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform Final at Tokyo 2020)
British Swimming said Mr Jenkins was the development lead coach for Dive London, overseeing the progress of the next generation of elite athletes at the London Aquatics Centre during his eight years involved with the diving programme there.
He was also nominated for Diving Coach of the Year at the British Swimming Awards in 2018.
British Swimming said Mr Jenkins also played an ‘instrumental role’ in the Tom Daley Diving Academy, delivering Learn To Dive lessons to thousands of children across the country.
‘He was extremely popular with all in the diving community due to his wonderful, friendly personality,’ the organisation said.
‘A former gymnast and diver himself, David had a bright future ahead of him and will be greatly missed by everyone he worked with across British Diving and GLL.’