Tributes paid to a teen who died after getting into trouble in the River Tyne

The devastated family of a teenager who tragically died after coming into trouble in the River Tyne have issued a heartfelt tribute to him.

Robert Hattersley, 13, of Crawcrook, sadly died following an incident in the river near Ovingham in Northumberland shortly before 4.15pm yesterday (Sunday).

Emergency services were deployed to the area and searches for him were carried out by a number of organisations including police, Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service, Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service, HM Coastguard and Mountain Rescue.

Robert’s body was later found in the water and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Today (Monday), Robert’s family have paid tribute to the much-loved schoolboy and say he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

They said:

“It is impossible to put into words the heartbreak we are feeling – Robert was so kind and loving. We are absolutely devastated by what has happened.

“He brought a smile to so many people’s faces and he will be missed by absolutely everyone who knew and loved him.

“We’d like to thank all the emergency services who worked so hard to try to find Robert, as well as everyone who has been in touch passing on their messages of condolence.”

Police are continuing to support Robert’s family and have asked that their privacy is respected at this time.

Officers do not believe there to be any third party involvement and a report will be made for the coroner.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Brooks, of Northumbria Police, said:

“This is an absolutely tragic incident and our thoughts are with Robert’s family at this absolutely horrendous time.

“We will continue to support them in any way that we can, as they attempt to process the events of the last 24 hours.

“I would like to thank every organisation who assisted us with our searches, including all the volunteers. Your support is absolutely vital and it is hugely appreciated. It is with great sadness that we could not provide a more positive update.”

"Absolute tragedy"

NFRS Chief Fire Officer Paul Hedley said:

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Robert at this time.

“A visit to the river has ended in absolute tragedy and we will be working with our colleagues at Northumbria Police to fully understand the circumstances of what happened.

“Unfortunately this incident underlines the very real dangers presented by rivers and the sea.

“The water may look calm on the surface, but there can be strong undercurrents that could pull even a strong swimmer under the water.

“And even when the weather feels very hot, the water may feel warm on the surface, but just a few feet below the surface it can be icy cold – affecting the stamina and strength of even strong swimmers.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther, of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said:

"Everyone at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service wants to offer their condolences to the family of Robert who tragically lost his life in Ovingham after getting into difficulty in the water on Sunday.

"Our crews did attend the area on Sunday to support Northumbria Police and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service with their operation. Together we carried out extensive searches of the water in a bid to locate the victim.

“It is difficult in these circumstances to find the right way to offer water safety advice, particularly when enquiries into what has happened are still ongoing, but doing so could prevent another tragedy from taking place.

“Even in the hot weather, cold water shock is a real risk. If you find yourself in trouble then the advice is to try and lean back and float. Use your arms and legs to help you get into this position, and try and stay calm.

“If you are with someone who gets into difficulty in the water then give them this advice and call emergency services for help. If you can, use an object to try and reach for them but don’t put yourself in danger by entering the water.”

Sergeant Simon Falconer, of Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit, said:

“Robert’s death was an absolutely tragic incident and our thoughts remain with his family. We’ll continue to offer them any support they need.

“While we would urge everyone to avoid any speculation as to the circumstances surrounding this particular incident, it does act as a poignant and timely reminder as to the potential dangers presented by water.

“We would echo the advice given by our colleagues at Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service and Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service and ask anybody who sees anybody in difficulty to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, rather than enter the water themselves.

“If you see someone in danger, act fast, keep your eyes on the person and wait for emergency services to arrive. That will allow the Coastguard, our officers and colleagues at the fire service to get to a casualty as quickly as possible.”

More information on water safety is available at https://www.northumberlandfireandrescue.gov.uk/outdoor-safety

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