A second boy has died following a tragic incident in the River Tyne in Northumberland on Saturday. Aras Rudzianskas, 13, from Newcastle, passed away in hospital on Tuesday, while David Radut, 14, also from Newcastle, died at the scene near a bridge in Ovingham.
Police were alerted at around 3:30pm on Saturday to reports of two boys in difficulty in the river. Emergency services recovered David's body, while Aras was rescued and taken to hospital but later died.
According to local reports, the boys had been playing on a rope swing when they got into trouble. David is said to have attempted to rescue Aras when it became clear he was struggling in the water.
Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Sam Rennison expressed condolences, saying: 'Our sincerest sympathies go to the loved ones of both boys... We would ask that the public continue to respect the privacy of the families.'
Floral tributes have been left at the scene, and the tree to which the rope was tied has since been cut down by an unknown person. Police confirmed they were not responsible for the removal.
Friends have paid tribute online, with one posting on Facebook: 'Rest easy David Radut until we meet again.' The families are being supported by specially-trained officers.
