A WEST Ham youth footballer drowned in a lake just weeks after he suffered brain injuries in a brutal attack, an inquest heard.
Nicolae Topa, 17, was with his pals at Fairlop Waters Country Park in East London when the horror unfolded.
The teen tragically drowned after a night of “hijinks that went wrong”, an inquest heard.
Nicolae, who played for West Ham’s youth team, had been attacked by five youths just weeks before the fatal incident on July 4 last year.
The footballer suffered a brain haemorrhage after being battered with a hammer and crowbar and later complained of feeling dizzy.
But Walthamstow Coroner’s Court was told a link between the attack on June 12 and Nicolae’s death could not be proven.
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His death came just days after the teen got into difficulty while swimming with mates in Brighton.
Nicolae, who had been swimming since the age of nine, had to get out of the sea after becoming dizzy and told his girlfriend people on the beach appeared “far away in the distance”.
On July 4, he had gone for dinner with his mum and other family who were visiting from his native Moldova.
Nicolae and his friends then drove to Fairlop Waters, where Nicolae had swum in the lake before, at around midnight.
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He told his pals he would dive in and retrieve a moored boat for his friends to cling on to and appeared to just be splashing in the dark water.
But the alarm was raised minutes later when Nicolae failed to respond to their cries.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the scene and a rescue mission was launched.
Nicolae’s body was tragically found the following evening, around 65 metres from the jetty he had originally jumped from.
The Met Police immediately cordoned off the scene in case his death could be linked to the previous attack.
But Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine ruled it was an accidental death by drowning after top pathologists found no evidence his injuries were to blame.
The coroner added: “It is apparent to me that Nicolae was trying to have some fun.
“It was a hot night, he had decided to get into the water and demonstrate his talent swimming and get a boat on the lake.
“It seems to have been a joke. The consequence of hijinks that went wrong.”
Nicolae played for Moldovan team Zimbru before moving to the UK with his mum and sister.
He joined West Ham at the age of 14 and also played at Leytonstone FC and Petrocub FC, a Moldovan team in London.
Nicolae’s family previously said their hearts had been “broken in pieces” following his death.
Four men who pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent over the attack in Chingford will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court in June.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
