Call for safety measures after teen's river death

The parents of a teenager who died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a river are trying to get safety equipment installed to stop future deaths.

Ronalds Abele, 17, died after he was helped from the River Nene at Wellingborough embankment in Northamptonshire in May.

A water safety day is being organised in his memory to coincide with World Drowning Prevention Day.

Ronalds' parents said they did not want any more families to go through the loss of a loved one in water.

Ronalds had been swimming with friends in the river on 10 May, said his father Thomas Okyere.

"There were seven of them [who] went to the water by the lock at the embankment," he said.

"Two of them were in the water swimming - they swam quite well for some time, but then he [Ronalds] started saying his legs had cramp.

"His friends thought he was probably messing about - when they realised it was serious, I think it was too late."

Ronalds was airlifted to Northampton General Hospital, but died soon afterwards.

Mr Okyere said he had been to the embankment several times and there appeared to be no signs or equipment to keep people safe.

He said: "There is no safety device, nothing whatsoever.

"There is a note by the Splash Park saying there used to be something and it's been vandalised.

"I think it needs to be replaced."

Ronalds' mother Laura Kirsteine said she did not want any other family to go through what happened to them.

"I don't wish my biggest enemy that, because it's been tough," she said.

"Our youngest [child] is only four years old - she does say she misses him, and my answer is that we all miss him."

Town councillor Marion Turner-Hawes, one of the organisers of the water safety event on 25 July, said it would be an informal opportunity to get people together to remember Ronalds, but also raise awareness of how to be safe in and around water.

She said she wanted to explore the possibility of installing throwlines along the river, which are thrown from the bank to anyone struggling.

"Someone's died - we should investigate what can each organisation do to improve the safety there," she added.

Matt Binley, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for travel and assets, said: “The Embankment area is owned by a mixture of landowners, with responsibilities spread amongst them and the relevant regulatory authorities.

"The council is keen to work with the family to explore ways in which we can help facilitate their requests for signage and safety equipment.

"We have reached out to the family to offer support.”

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