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Trapped teenager dies in flooding | Trapped teenager dies in flooding |
(10 minutes later) | |
A 17-year-old boy has died after being trapped in flood water in Oxfordshire. | A 17-year-old boy has died after being trapped in flood water in Oxfordshire. |
Emergency crews were called to Eastfield Road, Witney, on Tuesday evening after two boys became trapped in a culvert during flash flooding. | Emergency crews were called to Eastfield Road, Witney, on Tuesday evening after two boys became trapped in a culvert during flash flooding. |
Firefighters had been up to their necks in water during the rescue bid and said the death was "absolutely tragic". | Firefighters had been up to their necks in water during the rescue bid and said the death was "absolutely tragic". |
The second boy is in the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. Nearly a month's rainfall hit Oxfordshire on Tuesday and many areas were flooded. | The second boy is in the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. Nearly a month's rainfall hit Oxfordshire on Tuesday and many areas were flooded. |
Peter Cleary, from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, told the BBC the boy appeared to have become trapped by a metal grate in the drain. We were doing all we could to try and save this lad Peter Cleary | |
He said: "A culvert is like a concrete tunnel, which has some bars to stop weeds and debris from going any further, and it looks as if he was restricted at that point [by the bars]. | He said: "A culvert is like a concrete tunnel, which has some bars to stop weeds and debris from going any further, and it looks as if he was restricted at that point [by the bars]. |
"Our fire crews from Witney were in up to their necks in water. | "Our fire crews from Witney were in up to their necks in water. |
"We wear buoyancy aids and jackets and we were doing all we could to try and save this lad." | "We wear buoyancy aids and jackets and we were doing all we could to try and save this lad." |
He said crews attempted to resuscitate the teenager but he was later pronounced dead at hospital. | He said crews attempted to resuscitate the teenager but he was later pronounced dead at hospital. |
"Unfortunately, this is just a real tragic event." | "Unfortunately, this is just a real tragic event." |
Derek Gould, a 64-year-old painter and decorator, saw events unfold from his house, which borders the field where the tragedy took place. | Derek Gould, a 64-year-old painter and decorator, saw events unfold from his house, which borders the field where the tragedy took place. |
He said: "There was a group of lads over in the copse having a laugh in the flood waters. There had been a lot of children in the area all day. | He said: "There was a group of lads over in the copse having a laugh in the flood waters. There had been a lot of children in the area all day. |
"They were jumping in and playing around. Then we heard someone out of the back window yelling for help. | "They were jumping in and playing around. Then we heard someone out of the back window yelling for help. |
"One fire engine came and they got one boy out but they could not get the other one out. | "One fire engine came and they got one boy out but they could not get the other one out. |
"More engines came and later I saw the second boy come over on a stretcher. They were trying to resuscitate him. | "More engines came and later I saw the second boy come over on a stretcher. They were trying to resuscitate him. |
"I used to play over there myself as a youngster. I could hear those kids having a laugh - now one of them has paid with his life." | "I used to play over there myself as a youngster. I could hear those kids having a laugh - now one of them has paid with his life." |
Sue Williams, who also lives nearby, said: "I heard sirens, there was ambulance, police and fire engines and they all went rushing over to the field. I desperately hope we can do something to stop it happening again Richard Langridge, councillor | Sue Williams, who also lives nearby, said: "I heard sirens, there was ambulance, police and fire engines and they all went rushing over to the field. I desperately hope we can do something to stop it happening again Richard Langridge, councillor |
"They brought one lad out. He was okay, though cold and wet, but about half an hour later they brought a stretcher out and they were performing CPR." | "They brought one lad out. He was okay, though cold and wet, but about half an hour later they brought a stretcher out and they were performing CPR." |
Thames Valley Police said the boy was one of a group of youths who had gathered in a field near Eastfield Road during Tuesday evening's flash flooding. | Thames Valley Police said the boy was one of a group of youths who had gathered in a field near Eastfield Road during Tuesday evening's flash flooding. |
The teenage boy "found himself in difficulty in a flooded area and got trapped in a concrete culvert and drowned", police spokesman said. | The teenage boy "found himself in difficulty in a flooded area and got trapped in a concrete culvert and drowned", police spokesman said. |
He said details of the death would be passed to the coroner. | He said details of the death would be passed to the coroner. |
Conservative leader David Cameron, who is MP for Witney, said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of this 17-year-old boy. | Conservative leader David Cameron, who is MP for Witney, said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of this 17-year-old boy. |
"My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time." | "My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time." |
Richard Langridge, councillor for Witney North, said: "It's incredibly tragic. Unfortunately this is something which has been perhaps likely to happen so I am just incredibly sorry it has. | Richard Langridge, councillor for Witney North, said: "It's incredibly tragic. Unfortunately this is something which has been perhaps likely to happen so I am just incredibly sorry it has. |
"I desperately hope we can do something to stop it happening again. | "I desperately hope we can do something to stop it happening again. |
"I've been working with David Cameron and the local district council to try to get the Environment Agency to fund a scheme of balancing ponds above Eastfield Road to hold the water back. | "I've been working with David Cameron and the local district council to try to get the Environment Agency to fund a scheme of balancing ponds above Eastfield Road to hold the water back. |
"I will be putting more pressure on them to try to get the work started - it's long overdue." | "I will be putting more pressure on them to try to get the work started - it's long overdue." |