Teenage boy dies in 'tragic incident' after getting into trouble in river during hot weather
Ronalds Abele, 17, died after the "tragic incident" at the Embankment in Wellingborough yesterday
Northamptonshire Police/Purplevision
A teenage boy has died after getting into "difficulty" in Northamptonshire's River Nene yesterday afternoon.
Ronalds Abele, 17, had been airlifted to Northampton General Hospital after the incident, but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Northamptonshire Police have described the teen's death as a "tragic incident".
Police said emergency services had been called called to the Embankment in Wellingborough just after 1.45pm on Friday following reports that a teenager was in difficulty in the water.
Authorities closed off roads and waterways around the Embankment
Fire crews from nearby Rushden and Irthlingborough, alongside a specialist team from Mereway fire station, joined paramedics and police to try and rescue Abele.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the area around the Embankment was closed, with roads and waterways blocked off to prevent people coming into the area.
The teenager's family have "requested privacy at this very distressing time", police said.
A number of bouquets of flowers have been left by the Embankment in Abele's memory.
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Yesterday evening, a parent at the scene told the Northamptonshire Telegraph: "It's just really worrying. I've got two children and at this time of year when it gets hot kids will think that rivers are fun places. It’s really upsetting that’s something happened here."
Temperatures had soared in Wellingborough yesterday - at 1.45pm, around the time police had been called to the Embankment, thermometers had crossed 22C.
While tomorrow, it's set to be even hotter, with some meteorologists indicating the area could see 24C.
The Canal and River Trust has safety guidance in place specifically for teenagers and young people which calls for caution around waterways in the UK.
The Trust flags the lack of lifeguards around canals and rivers, and draws attention to deep water, dirty water, and submerged hazards like shopping trolleys and reeds.
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