Two 16-year-old boys die in ‘tragic drowning incident’ in Lough Enagh

Two 16-year-old boys have died after getting into difficulty in a lough near Strathfoyle on the outskirts of the city.

The drowning unfolded at Lough Enagh on Monday evening when a group of teenagers entered the water at a jetty.

The boys had stopped off at the lough while cycling in the area.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers were called shortly after 6.25pm to reports of a number of people in difficulty in the water.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said a rapid response paramedic, five emergency crews, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance officer were dispatched.

NIAS also tasked the air ambulance to attend the bank holiday Monday incident.

One of the boys was taken from the water but later pronounced dead in hospital.

The body of the second youth was recovered late on Monday night following extensive searches by Foyle Search and Rescue and police divers.

Another male was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries not believed to be life threatening, while three others have been left shocked, police said.

Mark Deeney, Western Area Commander for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said their thoughts are with the families and friends of the boys those affected.

He said firefighters were called to the scene at 6.31pm, and deployed a number of fire appliances and a specialist Water Rescue Team.

“On arrival we were informed that two teenage boys were missing in the water approximately five metres from the end of a jetty,” he said.

“Members of the Water Rescue Team from Crescent Link immediately entered the water and, supported by other personnel, were able to recover one of the boys within 20 minutes. He was transferred to hospital by NIAS but sadly did not survive.”

The search continued for the second boy, and his body was recovered just before midnight after an extensive search.

He added: “Despite the tragic outcome I would like to commend the efforts of our crews at the scene who worked tirelessly in an attempt to rescue the boys. Working in partnership with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Foyle Search and Rescue, everything possible was done to give them the best chance of survival.

“We are continuing to support our crews today and indeed our colleagues in our Regional Control Centre with specialist debriefs following this challenging incident.”

Local priest Father Michael Canny said the boys who died were from the local Indian community in the Waterside area of Derry.

“The families involved are very well known here in the Waterside area. They are part of the Syro-Malabar community who worship here at St Columb’s (church) in Waterside,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

“Fortuitously, their chaplain was here yesterday evening and he was able to console them and to be with the families right up into all hours of the night.”

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan lives nearby, and described the tragedy as having sent shockwaves across Derry.

“They are not more keenly felt than here in the local Strathfoyle area and in the Kerala community,” he told the PA news agency.

“All of the young fellas involved in last night’s incident were from the Kerala community, they would be a very settled, established and vibrant Kerala community here, maybe 250 families from southern India who have been here a long time.

“These young fellas have just completed their GCSEs, they got their results last week. They would have been looking forward to getting back to school.

“I have spoken to the school principal who was looking forward to having these boys back, he said they were great students and never had a day’s bother out of them, and now he is going to have to break it to the rest of the boys at the school who will be coming back this week to the sight of two empty desks in their classroom.”

Mr Durkan said the lough had been the scene of tragedy just over 30 years ago, when a young man lost his life.

“The beauty of this lake belies a real danger,” he said.

“I have been working with other elected representatives, agencies and community agencies on putting forward proposals for the redevelopment of this lough for more water sports.

“Whatever we do, safety has to be first and foremost in everyone’s minds.

“Sadly many people said there was an accident waiting to happen, and sadly it happened last night.”

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Sandra Duffy expressed shock and sadness.

“As a mother, my heart goes out to the boys’ parents and to their family and friends at this time, I hope you get the strength and support you need to get you through your huge loss.

“Our rivers and loughs can be so dangerous and this incident highlights more than ever the need for us all to be vigilant at this time of year. My thoughts are also with the boys’ friends who were there last night and who witnessed the tragedy and to their school friends and teachers who should have been welcoming them back to school this week.

“I want to extend a special note of acknowledgement and thanks to everyone involved in the rescue operation, to the emergency services on the ground and the many volunteers who showed up to help as well all the staff at Altnagelvin Hospital. It has been a very difficult time for all of them and they are all in my thoughts and prayers.”

Ms Duffy said she was confident that local people would rally behind the family and friends of the boys.

“We are united in our grief today and all of us are here to offer our support to the families in the difficult days ahead,” she said.

PSNI’s Inspector Brogan said: “Inquiries are ongoing into this incident but we believe, at this stage, that this was a tragic drowning incident. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected.”