Water safety day to be held where three teens died

EMERGENCY services and community groups have organised a water safety day aimed at cutting the number of drownings in the River Tyne. The event will be held at Prudhoe, where three teenagers have lost their lives in recent years.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local democracy reporter

Robert Hattersley, from Crawcrook, was just 13 when he died in 2022 after an incident in the river between Prudhoe and Ovingham. In 2024, David Ionut Radut, 14, and Aras Rudzianskas, 13, both died after getting into difficulty on the same stretch of river.

A free event on July 5 will give youngsters the opportunity to learn about staying safe near water and how to use safety equipment. Tyne Valley Canoe Club instructors will also be on hand to help them get onto the water.

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Mountain Rescue and the Police Marine Unit will be in attendance allowing visitors the opportunity to get up close to their emergency equipment and vehicles. The Prudhoe Youth Project is also organising a range of family-friendly activities.

Organiser Gemma Nixon, from the Prudhoe Youth Project, said: "Water safety and keeping young people safe down by the river is high on the agenda for many of us.