Tributes have been paid to a 13-year-old boy who tragically died after entering a lake to cool off with friends during the recent heatwave. Hayden Jones-Powell, from Syston, Leicestershire, has been described by his family as a "lovely little cheeky boy" who adored animals and had his whole life ahead of him.
Incident at Meynell Lake
Hayden, a passionate West Bromwich Albion fan with many friends, ventured into Meynell Lake on Fosse Way, Syston, after school on June 25. He got into difficulties while trying to cool down in the water. Police were alerted just after 1.30pm, with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service also rushing to the scene. Expert diving teams searched the lake and discovered Hayden.
Family's tribute
Speaking on behalf of the family, his aunt Charlotte Powell told LeicestershireLive: "He was just a really lovely little cheeky boy." She explained that he had masses of friends and "did really, really well at school." Hayden is survived by two elder brothers and a sister. Recalling the day of the tragedy, Charlotte said: "Hayden was like any other teenage boy who just went to the lake to paddle with his friends. He wanted to cool off from the heat and enjoy the cool water, getting some respite from the heatwave after school."
Community support
The family has been left shattered by the news. "It's horrific, absolutely horrific," Charlotte added. "When my husband rang me yesterday to say, are you sitting down? Hayden's gone missing. It's the thing that happens to other people, doesn't it? It doesn't happen to your family." Charlotte expressed gratitude for the community's support and has launched a fundraising page to help with funeral costs. "The family are so, so grateful for all the support, really, really grateful," she said. "We know that in times like this, there's so little that people can do, but if anybody can just give a fiver to our fund, just to give us the best send-off for Hayden that we can possibly do."
Police and memorial plans
Police stated there is no indication of any suspicious circumstances, and a file will be prepared for the coroner. The family is receiving support from specialist officers. Hayden's friends are arranging two balloon releases in his memory. The first is scheduled for 12.30pm on Saturday at Central Park in Syston, with a second planned for the following Saturday in Mountsorrel. A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the family in giving Hayden "a beautiful send off," with a fundraising goal of £6,000.
