Second teen boy, 13, dies after ‘falling into river while playing on rope swing with stricken pal trying to rescue him’
A SECOND teen boy has died after reportedly falling into a river while playing on a rope swing – with a stricken pal trying to save him.
Tributes poured in for David Radut, 14, who died after the horror at the River Tyne near Ovingham Bridge in Northumberland on Saturday afternoon.
Police today confirmed his pal, Aras Rudzianskas, 13, from Newcastle, died in hospital yesterday.
Emergency services scrambled to the waterway around 3.30pm on Saturday.
Locals claimed one of the teens, David, had jumped into the water to save his pal who started struggling after playing on a rope swing.
It is believed the boys were part of a bigger group who had travelled from the west end of Newcastle around 12 miles away.
The body David was found in the river following a frantic search and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Aras was rescued from the water and was taken to hospital where he also sadly died.
Chief Superintendent Sam Rennison, of Northumbria Police, today said: “Our sincerest sympathies go to the loved ones of both boys and we will continue to provide whatever support we can at this devastating time.
“Since Saturday, our thoughts and those of the wider community have been with the families and friends of those affected.
“We would ask that the public continue to respect the privacy of the families both online and in the community.”
The parents of both boys continue to be supported by specially-trained officers.
A woman who drove past the scene yesterday claimed the 14-year-old boy, had been trying to rescue the other lad, 13.
She told The Sun: “I heard the first boy went into the river from the swing – he was in trouble so the second one went in after him.
“There was a group of about eight teenage girls and boys so they must have travelled here together.
“They have come here thinking it is a nice spot to play. It’s very common to see kids travelling from the Newcastle area.
'TERRIBLY SAD'
“The kids don’t know just how dangerous it can get down there.
“It’s so sad when you see it happening close to home.
“The same thing happened two years ago.
“On a still day you can actually see small circles of water being made by the currents – that’s how strong they are under the surface.
“Below the water is full of great big holes and boulders.
“There’s been many times I’ve wanted to go down to that swing and cut it down myself.
“It’s terribly sad to wake up to this news.”
“My kids used to play down and there and I would always say please, please be careful.
“I’ve even been down there and cut the swing down before but the kids put it back up.
“There was a big group of people who had gathered and I think the parents of some of the kids were here.
“The river is very deep and the kids don’t realise how deep and dangerous it is.
“My head is spinning thinking about how sad it is.”
Fire crews removed the swing next to where the two boys entered the water.
The rope had earlier been shortened by police and all that remains now is a section of strapping hanging from a branch of the tree.
Chief Superintendent Helena Barron, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the families of both boys at this difficult time as we continue to support them.
“A number of agencies were involved in the incident and their support was hugely appreciated.
“It is with great sadness that we could not provide a more positive update.”
Ambulance services said they treated one of the teenage boys before taking him to hospital.
Carl Hattersley and his wife Stella shared their grief over the death of more boys after their son Robert died in the same stretch of river.
Carl, 50, from Gateshead, said: “I feel very upset about it. We know what they are going through.
“It’s upsetting that they’ve lost their little son. It’s brought back memories of what we have gone through.
“It’s still raw to us, it hasn’t been that long. It’s coming up to two years.
“We give our condolences and our love and support from our family to their family. If we can help in anyway we will.”
Stella, 49, said: “We want to give the parents our condolences. It was very upsetting to see it.
“It’s not nice losing a child. It affected us in a really, really bad way.”
