Welsh teen judo champion found dead; inquest cites unexplained neck pressure

Marc Jose Aguilar, a popular twelve-year-old judo competitor from Cardiff, was found lifeless in his bedroom on the afternoon of September 14, 2024, after a day that included swimming and lunch with his father. His sister entered the room to retrieve shoes, discovered him on the floor, and family members struggled to move his body before calling emergency services. Paramedics and police arrived, but despite CPR administered by a critical-care practitioner, no pulse returned and he was declared dead at 5:08 pm.

The pathologist reported no significant injuries, disease, or genetic defects, noting only a tiny scratch on the neck. The coroner recorded the medical cause as pressure to the neck, labeling the incident a misadventure and stating the act was deliberate but not an intended suicide. Investigators found no concerning messages on his phone, though his recent internet searches included queries about protein intake and adrenaline effects.