Tragedy as second schoolboy, 14, dies weeks after getting into trouble in River Eden in incident that also resulted in death of his 15-year-old friend Lewis Michael Kirkpatrick
- The 14-year-old was one of four teenagers who got into trouble in Cumbria
- He died in intensive care in the early hours of Thursday morning, police said
A 14-year-old schoolboy has tragically died several weeks after getting into trouble in a river in Cumbria.
The boy, who has not yet been named, passed away in the early hours of this morning following an incident in which a group of teenagers got into trouble in the River Eden.
The announcement of the 14-year-old’s death by Cumbria Police follows that of 15-year-old Lewis Michael Kirkpatrick, whose body was found in the Eden in Carlisle on May 27.
The younger teenager had been airlifted to hospital following the incident but died in medical care on Thursday. The force said a file will be prepared for the coroner.
Emergency services received reports that four teenage boys had got into trouble in the river on the evening of May 26.
The body of Lewis Michael Kirkpatrick, 15, was was found in the River Eden in Carlisle, Cumbria, at about 1.30pm on Saturday
Emergency services including the police and fire service at the scene near the River Eden
One of the group managed to swim to safety and another was rescued by a member of the public, the force said previously.
Officers were alerted to the boys struggling in the water in the city’s Rosehill area at 6.41pm, prompting the launch of a large multi-agency search.
Mr Kirkpatrick’s parents, Nichola and Paul Kirkpatrick, previously paid tribute to their ‘kind, caring and funny son’.
In a statement released by police, the couple said: ‘Lewis was the baby of the family and his death has left a gaping hole that can never be filled.
‘Lewis was a loving son, brother of Kyle and Nathan, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, friend, and boyfriend of Kiara.’
The family expressed gratitude to the emergency services and agencies who helped in the search for Lewis, and a member of the public ‘who risked his own life to try to help the boys’.
They warned of the dangers of rivers, saying: ‘We don’t want any other families to suffer the same, awful loss.’
They also said they were overwhelmed by messages of support and thanked Carlisle United and Stockport County fans, who paid their respects in the 15th minute of the Sky Bet League Two play-off final.
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