A 14-year-old boy has died after entering a canal in Leeds on a sunny day over the Easter weekend.
The teenager, named locally as George Lund, reportedly died in front of his girlfriend and her siblings after being towed by a strong current.
He was pronounced dead after he was pulled from a lock on the Aire and Calder Navigation in the Stourton area on Saturday afternoon.
West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the scene along with other emergency services as a major search operation began.
The boy was lifted from the water but declared dead shortly after, the force said.
George jumped into the lock on the sunny afternoon an apparent prank gone wrong, The Telegraph reported.
The teenager was reportedly with his girlfriend and her siblings at the time of the incident.
His mother, Staciie Lund, wrote on Facebook on Monday: “I am eternally grateful for the love and support shown by everyone at this heartbreaking time for me and my family, with my precious forever 14-year-old baby boy!
“My baby was truly one of a kind and I’m so proud to be his mum.”
In another post she wrote: “I love and miss you so much my gorgeous baby boy. I just need you back.”
Tributes have been left at the scene near Thwaite Lane. One read: “I am so lost without you. My heart is broken. I love you all round the world and back again.”
Family and friends took to social media on Monday to express their shock at what happened.
One person wrote: “Having to see my mum and my sister breakdown, literally dropping to the floor with the heartache! It was awful they shouldn’t have to be doing this.
“He was only 14, found his first love and everything! Every time I went to my mum’s he would show me his school books and how well he was doing, bless him. He had his life ahead of him!”
Another said “George was a lovely lad” who “will never be forgotten”.
Another said: “He was taken too soon, he was always there for me. Fly high George, you are loved by many.”
A police spokesperson told the Standard: “At 4.32pm on Saturday, police received a concern for safety report for a male in the canal by Thwaite Lane, Leeds.
“Emergency services attended and recovered a teenage male from the water.
“He received medical attention at the scene, but was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later.”
West Yorkshire Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.
A GoFundMe page has been set up “asking for small donations towards a memorial day where George’s family and friends can have a get together to share fond memories and celebrate his life”.
The organiser, Haley-Marie McGowan, said George was “a beloved teenage boy who sadly has passed away due to an incident which happened over the Easter holidays”.
“George was a very smart boy with a lot to live for who was a friendly face to all and had many friends and was very popular within his peers. He will be missed by many.
“A son, a grandson a brother and a dear friend to many.”
