Youth drowns in Drumahoe

The youth got into difficulties and was eventually pulled from the water by members of Foyle Search and Rescue, but efforts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful.

The youth was named locally as Kyle Bonnes, aged 15, and a pupil at Lisneal College.

A PSNI statement said: "Police were called to reports of a disturbance in the Glenshane road area of Drumahoe shortly after 5:00pm this evening.

"On arrival of police two males made off from the scene and one entered the River Faughan... The young man died a short time later shortly before 6:30pm. The Police Ombudsman has been informed."

Community worker Catherine Cooke, who comforted the boy's friends after the tragedy, said: "The community centre's closed for a week, but we opened it because the young people are distraught to say the least. Some of the young people up there were with Kyle when the accident happened.

"It's just a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to Kyle's parents and his grandparents. We're heart sorry."

She said the part of the river where the accident happened was quite fast flowing and there had been a lot of rain over the past few days.

"There are times it looks quite shallow, but it can be very deceiving," she said.

Meanwhile, DUP MLA and Speaker of the Stormont Assembly, William Hay, described what happened as "a total and absolute tragedy".

"This young man would have been very well-known in the local area and went to the local college. It is very difficult to get words to describe what has happened," he said.

Expressing sympathy to the family Mr Hay said it was now important to piece together the events of Wednesday evening and ascertain exactly what happened which led to the teenager entering the river.

Fellow DUP party member, Joe Miller, the current chairman of Derry District Policing Partnership, has also offered his sympathy

"I would like to extend my sympathy to the family and friends of Kyle. I have already spoken to the PSNI Area Commander in Foyle, Chief Inspector Chris Yates, in relation to the incident and I am aware that the events surrounding this tragic loss of life is the subject of an investigation by the Police Ombudsman's Office.

"I would like to assure Kyle's family that the District Policing Partnership will monitor the outcome of this independent investigation and will be there for the family if they require any assistance or support," he said.