Boy, 12, who drowned in River Ribble at Ribchester named locally

On Tuesday, officers received a report of a concern for safety after a 12-year-old boy had gone into the water at Ribchester.

A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched.

A police helicopter and the North West Ambulance Service were also called.

A body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm.

The boy has been named locally as Junior Slater, as tributes have been left at the scene of the incident.

Police were still at the River Ribble today conducting enquiries, and well-wishers came to pay their respects.

Flowers have been left at the scene where aa young boy died after getting into trouble swimming in the River Ribble. (Image: SWNS/Phil Taylor)

Tributes have poured in for the young boy.

One read: “This is so heartbreaking, so young RIP young man, thoughts are with the family at this sad time and his friends.”

Another said: “Rest in peace, young man, gone way too soon.”

A third said: “So sad. Thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

A further tribute read: “So sad sending so much love to his friends and family. A heartbreaking read.”

Police have not officially confirmed the identity of the boy, but said the family were being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed in due course to HM Coroner.

 The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has issued a warning after at least eight people, mostly children, drowned over the bank holiday weekend, as the UK baked in scorching temperatures.

It warned that water temperatures remain cold despite large increases in air temperatures, and cold water shock could make swimming difficult and make it harder to get out of the water.