Family pay heartbreaking tribute to Junior Slater, 12, after River Ribble tragedy
The family of Junior Slater, the 12-year-old who tragically died in the River Ribble, have paid tribute to their beloved "little blue-eyed boy."
The family of a 12-year-old who died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a river have paid tribute to their “little blue-eyed boy”.
Lancashire Police said emergency services were called just after 2pm on Tuesday to a report that a boy had gone into the River Ribble at Ribchester, and got into difficulty while swimming with friends.
A large-scale search involving Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with North-West Ambulance Service providing support.
A body was recovered from the river at about 7.50pm on Tuesday.
Police said the boy was Junior Slater, 12, from Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire.
His family said: “Our little blue-eyed boy. He will be truly missed.
“He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can’t describe how we are feeling right now.
“We will forever love you Junior.”
Junior’s family are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to the coroner.
Tuesday was the hottest May day on record for both England and Wales, according to the Met Office, with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35.1C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9C.
People across the UK have died after struggling in open water, in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire in recent days.
The Royal Life Saving Society urged people to “stop and think” before getting into the water in response to the deaths, most of whom were children.