A 12-year-old boy who died while swimming in the River Ribble has been named as Junior Slater, from Clayton le Woods. His family paid tribute to their 'little blue-eyed boy', describing him as the 'life and soul' of their lives.
Emergency services were called at around 2pm on Tuesday after reports that a boy had got into difficulty while swimming with friends in the river at Ribchester. A large-scale search was launched, involving officers from Lancashire Police's underwater search unit and crews from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. North West Ambulance Service also provided support.
Junior was pulled from the water at approximately 7.50pm on Tuesday, but sadly could not be revived. His family is being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time.
In a heartfelt tribute, his family said: 'Our little blue-eyed boy. He will be truly missed. He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can't describe how we are feeling right now. We will forever love you Junior.'
The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of swimming in open water, especially rivers with strong currents. Authorities urge the public to be cautious and to swim only in designated safe areas.
