Villagers mourn death of school boy

The 13-year-old, was playing at the River Derwent, near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, when tragedy struck.

It is believed he was playing with friends when he fell into the water.

His friends frantically tried to save him as they saw him slip under the water.

Today the close knit estate where the youngster's family lives, only a mile away from where the accident happened, was united in grief.

Police are not naming the boy, a pupil at Hookergate Comprehensive, until all his relatives have been informed.

A family member said: "We are devastated. We can't say anything at the moment, we are too upset."

Police said the alarm was raised by a passer-by who spotted the boys struggling in the water and contacted officers by mobile phone at 5.50pm yesterday.

Eye witness Ivan Jeavons said he was aware of two boys in the water.

He said: "One had recovered by the time I got here.

"The other one was still in the water somewhere.

"The police were searching all down the river and he was eventually found under the weir. He had been in the water for some time."

Firemen from Swalwell station, Gateshead, put on lifejackets and, with lines attached to their bodies, waded into the water.

After 10 minutes they located the victim under water six to seven feet deep and brought him to the bank where he was air lifted to Newcastle General Hospital in a helicopter.

But the boy died shortly afterwards, a spokesman for Northumberland Police said today.

Swalwell station officer Dave Bux ton said the tragedy happened at the weir underneath the road bridge that crosses high over the River Derwent near Gibside Chapel.

He said: "When we got there the police and paramedics were already working on a casualty on the riverbank.

"We were informed that a second casualty was still missing in the river.

"Four firefighters wearing life jackets and with lines attached went into the river, while others began a search using a thermal image camera. "The casualty was found after five to 10 minutes. He was in water six to seven feet deep and he was being kept under the water by the strong currents.

"The firefighters brought him to the riverbank where the police and paramedics took over.

"The area where it happened is a very popular spot for swimmers.

"All rivers are potentially dangerous and we would warn people to be aware of this."

Police said inquiries were at an early stage but officers were not treating the incident as suspicious.

Insp Norman Kirtland, of Gateshead police, said: "The family of the teenager are obviously deeply shocked, as are his friends who he had been playing with at the time.

"We would take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to his family."

Neighbour and family friend David Brown, 29, said: "We are quite close friends with the family and it is awful to hear what has happened.

"The lad's sister came around last night and told us what had happened. We were so shocked. In fact everyone on the estate is devastated.

"She said her brother had been playing in the river with a group of friends when he slipped and banged his head. He went under the water and apparently he died later.

"It must have been awful. He was a mischievous lad, always laughing and he will be a great miss to every one around here."

Mr Brown, a father of five added: "You don't think that anything like this can happen to your own family but I will be keeping a very close eye on my own kids.

"This lad was just playing with friends, it's what they do, but no one ever thinks it could end like that."

The sister of one of the boys who was with the 13-year-old at the time of the accident, told how devastated the village was today.

The woman who did not want to be named, said: "My brother was with the lad at the time. He came home and we couldn't get anything out of him.

"He is devastated. He tried to get him out of the water but after that he wouldn't say anything.

"The village will be in bits today. He will be a great loss. It is terrible. "It is too close to home for me and I can't say anything else."