'Phenomenal' response to fund after river death

An online fund set up to help the grieving family of a boy who died in a river has had a "phenomenal" response, one of its organisers said.

The teenager was in the River Waveney at Beccles, Suffolk, on Wednesday when he failed to resurface. His body was found by emergency services that evening.

Layla Eales and Terri Bird said they wanted to instigate a financial show of support, with their appeal raising more than £8,000 in 24 hours.

"It's the only way we can get the community involved and they've been absolutely brilliant - phenomenal," said Ms Bird.

Emergency services were called to the quay area, beside the A146 bridge, just before 19:30 BST on Wednesday.

Despite rescue attempts, the body of the boy, a Year 9 pupil at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, was later recovered from the water.

Suffolk Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and a file was being prepared for the coroner.

The friends, who knew the boy and his family, said they wanted to do something after Ms Eales visited the quay on Thursday to pay her respects and lay flowers.

"It makes your heart drop - you instantly think of the parents, and really feel for them, especially when you are a parent yourself and it's your local community," she said.

"I saw the kids sitting there, heartbroken, and you feel helpless.

"They're a lovely family - he was really well thought of."

The pair hope the fund will help cover any lost income and funeral costs, with the remainder used for a memorial bench and additional life-saving equipment at the riverside.

"We wanted to help the family with anything they need," said Ms Bird.

"Our first target was £2,000, which we hit within three hours.

"It's phenomenal how much people are donating to help the family."

The women hope their fund - and the memorial and equipment it pays for - will ultimately keep his memory alive.

"We knew that it would be someone we knew, it's a small town, everybody knows everybody," said Ms Bird.

"Your thoughts go straight to the family.

"To think you let your child out to play and they never come home, it's devastating."

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