Family’s heartbreaking tribute to Clayton le Woods 12-year-old

Emergency services were called to Ribchester at just after 2pm yesterday (Tuesday, May 26) to a report of a concern for safety after a boy had gone into the river at Ribchester and had got into difficulty while swimming with friends.

A large-scale search involving officers from Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service was launched, with North West Ambulance Service providing support.

Tragically, a body was recovered from the river around 7.50pm.

The boy was named locally as Junior Slater earlier today, a 12-year-old, and Lancashire Police have now confirmed he is from Clayton-le-Woods.

In a tribute, his family said:” Our little blue-eyed boy. He will be truly missed.

“He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can’t describe how we are feeling right now.

“We will forever love you Junior.”

Junior’s family continue to be supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

The family have asked for privacy at this time.

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

His death was one of at least eight drownings which occurred across the bank holiday weekend, as the UK saw record temperatures for May, with six of these being children.