The inquest into the death of Bradley Passey has heard that the 21-year-old drowned in Rotterdam after disappearing from a TwitchCon event. Mr Passey, who was born in Stourbridge and resided in Halesowen, died just weeks before his birthday on Maasboulevard in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Coroner’s Inquiry
Area Coroner Joanne Lees informed Black Country Coroner’s Court that Mr Passey’s death was notified to the coroner’s office following his repatriation to the UK from the Netherlands. His date of death was recorded as June 4, 2026. Mrs Lees said: “Following the repatriation of Mr Passey into the UK, a post-mortem has taken place and a provisional medical cause of death has been established as drowning.”
The coroner noted that Mr Passey was identified at a funeral director’s after his repatriation. Mrs Lees stated she was satisfied that an inquest was necessary. However, she explained she was unable to set a date for the inquest as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office must liaise with Dutch authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding Mr Passey’s death.
Family and Background
Mr Passey’s relatives did not attend the hearing on Wednesday, July 29. Prior to his death, Mr Passey had reportedly been attending a TwitchCon event – an annual gathering for the video livestreaming platform Twitch – held in the Netherlands. Missing person appeals circulated at the time indicated that he was scheduled to board a flight to Manchester Airport on June 1. Family members are believed to have last communicated with him on the evening of Saturday, May 31.
TwitchCon events typically draw thousands of attendees from around the world, with creators and fans gathering for panels, meetups, and community activities. The event in the Netherlands was part of the platform’s international expansion. The disappearance and subsequent death of Mr Passey shocked the local community and raised questions about attendee safety at large-scale conventions.
Next Steps
The inquest has been adjourned pending further inquiries by Dutch authorities and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The coroner emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the events leading to Mr Passey’s death. A date for the full inquest will be set once international cooperation is complete. The tragedy highlights the complexities of repatriation and cross-border legal procedures in death investigations.
