A 17-year-old boy from London has died while snorkelling in Lake Malawi during a school trip to Africa. The student, named locally as Eugene, attended Hampton School, a private boys' school in Richmond upon Thames.
Incident Details
Pupils from the school were snorkelling in Lake Malawi at Cape Maclear, Monkey Bay, on Tuesday when the teenager disappeared. An extensive search was launched, and divers later found him underwater. He was rushed to Monkey Bay Community Hospital but tragically died, according to police.
Superintendent Patrick Mussa of the Malawi Police Service's Eastern Region Headquarters said Eugene's disappearance triggered an "immediate search operation." He added: "After an extensive search, divers located him underwater... Police in the Eastern Region have since expressed their condolences to the bereaved family, while investigations into the incident continue."
School Response
Hampton School confirmed one of its students had died on the camping trip. A spokesperson told the BBC: "Our thoughts, love and deepest sympathies are with the pupil's family and loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time... At present, our focus is supporting the pupil's family and everyone affected within our school community."
Recent Similar Tragedy
The incident comes only weeks after another London student died during a Duke of Edinburgh trip to Wales. Umar Dumbuya, 18, tragically died on June 30 after entering the River Wye while on an expedition in Powys. Emergency services were called after reports a male had entered the water and could not be found. Umar was a student at Leyton Sixth Form in east London. The college launched a GoFundMe to support his loved ones, stating: "It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking loss of a much-loved student who tragically passed away in a sudden accident. Umar will be remembered for his kindness, warmth, and the positive impact he had on his family, friends, classmates, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing them."
