The family of an 18-year-old who died during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Powys have paid tribute to their 'loving' son, brother, and grandson. Umar Dumbuya, from London, died after entering the River Wye in Glasbury on Tuesday, June 30, while taking part in the expedition.
Family tribute
In a statement, his family described Umar as a kind and caring young man who brought warmth and laughter to those around him. They said: 'We are heartbroken by the loss of our son, brother, and grandson. There are no words that can describe the pain we are feeling as a family. Umar was a loving boy and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.'
They added: 'Umar loved spending time playing basketball, attending the gym, and spending time with friends and family. We will always remember Umar for his kindness, warmth, and sense of humour. His death has left a devastating hole in our family and we now ask for privacy as we take time to grieve.'
Emergency response
On June 30, emergency services including police, fire, and mountain rescue were called to the River Wye at Glasbury, Powys, after reports that someone had entered the water and gone missing. After hours of searching, police recovered a man's body.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award statement
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award confirmed on Wednesday, July 1, that the teenager had been on a DofE expedition in Powys when the tragedy occurred. They said they would work with the relevant authorities to understand how the incident happened.
A DofE spokesman said: 'We are deeply saddened to confirm that a young person has drowned while on a DofE expedition in Powys, Wales. Our thoughts are with the young person's family together with all those who were taking part. We will do everything we can to support them at this difficult time.'
The spokesman added: 'DofE is liaising closely with the young person's college and relevant authorities to understand how this tragic incident happened. We are offering our full support.'
