Tributes paid to boy, 12, who drowned during UK heatwave

A boy who drowned in Ribchester during the UK heatwave has been named by police as 12-year-old Junior Slater.

Emergency services were called just after 2pm on Tuesday after a child waded into the river at Ribchester and had difficulty swimming with friends. Later, around 19.50, a body was pulled from the river.

In a statement released by Lancashire Police on Wednesday, Junior’s family paid tribute to their “blue-eyed little boy”, who they described as “the life and soul of our lives”.

“Our little blue-eyed son,” they said at the commemoration ceremony. “We will truly miss him. He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can’t describe how we feel right now. We will love you forever, Junior.”

Police confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious.

It comes after six more teenagers died in swimming-related incidents during the heatwave.

Cheshire police on Wednesday found the body of what is believed to be a 17-year-old boy who went missing in the water at Pickmere Lake in Marston, Northwich, on Tuesday.

The family of 15-year-old Declan Sawyer also paid tribute to their “much-loved” son, who died after getting into trouble in the water at Swanholme Lakes in Lincolnshire on Sunday.

A 13-year-old boy also died after getting into trouble at Leadbeater Dam near Halifax in West Yorkshire on Monday afternoon.

That evening, the body of a young girl was pulled from the water at Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, police said the body of a teenage boy was pulled from the water at Rother Valley Country Park near Sheffield.

Merseyside Police said a 15-year-old girl was also in a critical condition after experiencing difficulties in the water at Formby beach on Monday.

This is breaking news, more to come…