The family of a 19-year-old who drowned in a lake in Nottinghamshire has called on social media companies to remove footage of his death that has been circulating online. Panashe Muchenje, from Nottingham, died after entering Balderton Lake near Newark on 28 May during a heatwave.
Video footage shows Mr Muchenje lowering himself into the water before getting into difficulty. The clip has been widely shared, particularly by Zimbabwean media, prompting his family to urge tech giants to take it down. His nephew, Maxwell Muchenje, 56, described him as 'a very energetic person, very loving' and said his church community adored him.
Nottinghamshire County Councillor Johno Lee expressed shock and concern over the circulation of the footage, calling it 'utterly unacceptable' that grieving relatives could be confronted with such content. He urged social media platforms to remove the video immediately and called on Nottinghamshire Police to review the footage and investigate any concerns.
Police have confirmed that Mr Muchenje's death is not being treated as suspicious. He was in the lake for about 22 minutes before being pulled out and taken to hospital, where he later died. Chief Inspector Clive Collings said open waters are 'exceptionally dangerous' and urged caution during hot weather.
The family has asked the public to stop speculating about the incident, saying it 'added insult to injury'. A file is being prepared for the coroner. The teenager's funeral is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
