A mum has pleaded with young people to be safe around water during the good weather after her 16-year-old son died whilst cooling off with his mates.
Kalen Waugh got into difficulty while swimming in Salford Quays in July last year during a spell of nice weather.
He’d only just finished his GSCEs and was set to go to college that September, but all of that changed when he went into the water and never came back out alive.
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Now, 12 young people have died while swimming in open water in the UK since the start of May, including two in Bournemouth who died after the ‘suggestion’ they were caught in a riptide.
Kalen’s mum Vicky Waugh has pleaded for other youngsters not to get into the same problems in open water as her son did, as the first anniversary of his death approaches.
In an emotional Facebook post, she wrote: “I seriously beg you all please don't do it.
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"Find other ways to chill in the sun.”
In another post, addressed directly to her lost son, she added: "I spent your whole life worrying about who would be there for you, or who would look after you if something ever was to happen to me, Kalen Waugh.
"For me to be here in this s*** world living this s*** life without you.
“Never once in all them years of worry did I think it would be this way round."
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At the time of his death, Kalen was described by New Park School as a ‘cheeky chappy who certainly kept staff on their toes’.
The school’s headteacher Almut Bever-Warren said: "Kalen was a very popular student with us, he had a college placement for September, mum was very proud of him that he had sat his GCSEs, the first in the family.
"I had spoken to the parents of the Year 11 lads who Kalen had been with on Saturday night while we were waiting [at the scene] because I didn't want them to hear it via social media.
“You might be aware we are a special school, I didn't call an assembly, I went class by class, I've been here for 17 years and I've never cried, but I cried whilst I told them what it was like waiting with mum for the body to be retrieved.
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"I said to them I do not want to stand there again with one of your mums and the children were very respectful and accepted that."
Still, young men were seen jumping into the same water just hours after Kalen’s body was removed from it, despite Greater Manchester Police issuing warnings.
At the time, Greater Manchester Police issued a statement that said: "The body of a teenage boy has been recovered from Salford Quays after we were called to reports of a person getting into difficulty in the water yesterday.
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"Shortly after 6.15pm police were called and emergency service colleagues from GMFRS and NWAS attended.
"Sadly, a body was located in the water later that evening and was recovered by specialist partners overnight.
"Although formal identification has not yet taken place, the body is believed to be that of a 16-year-old boy who was last seen struggling in the water after swimming with friends.
"His family has been kept updated and are being supported by specially-trained officers at this extremely distressing time."
Detective Inspector Joanne Johnston, of Swinton CID, added: "Yesterday evening's events are nothing short of devastating and my thoughts are with the friends and family of the young boy who lost his life in such awful circumstances.
"We remind the public to avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds. We all want to enjoy the warm weather; please make sure you do so in a safe way. Think of your family - look out for your friends."
Topics: UK News
Tom Wood