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Teenager who died in river Wear jumped in to help her friend, police say Teenager who died in river Wear jumped in to help her friend, police say
(about 7 hours later)
A teenager who lost her life trying in vain to save another girl from the fast-flowing river Wear "died a hero", a friend has said. Tonibeth Purvis has been described as a heroine after it emerged the teenager died trying to save her friend Chloe Fowler, who had jumped into a fast-flowing stretch of the river near Washington, Tyne and Wear, to cool off in the hot weather.
Tonibeth Purvis, 15, jumped in to save Chloe Fowler, 14, who had entered the river at Washington, Tyne and Wear, to cool off, Northumbria police have said. The girls were named by police after their bodies were found in the river Wear, hours after they went missing on Tuesday. Police have since revealed that other children also nearly drowned trying to help their friends.
But, after a huge search and rescue attempt, the bodies of both teenagers were recovered by police dive units on Tuesday night. "I knew Tonibeth, she was loving and caring and always put people before her," said Bethany Rose-McCaffrey, a friend from Barmston, Washington. "If it had been a friend or a stranger, she would have gone to help.
Police have since said that one or two other children also nearly drowned trying to help their friends. "She has died a hero trying to save a friend's life, which shows we really do have friends out there."
Bethany Rose-McCaffrey, 15, was friends with Tonibeth and said she had "died a hero". Superintendent Alan Veitch of Northumbria police said Chloe, who was 14 and from Shiney Row, near Sunderland, got in the water deliberately. "The emerging picture is that she went in to keep cool.
"I knew Tonibeth, she was loving and caring and always put people before her," she said. "If it had been a friend or a stranger, she would have gone to help. "I think there's a lot of children who were trying to effect a rescue. It's difficult for the children who were involved in the actual incident itself, as one or two of them nearly drowned."
"I did not believe it was actually her but then I found out that it was. I'm really shocked because I did not think something like this would happen. Chloe's family described her as a "beautiful, kind and caring girl". In a statement on Wednesday they said: "We would like to thank everyone involved in helping us to look for the girls. We would ask that we are given some time and privacy to grieve."
"She has died a hero trying to save a friend's life, which shows we really do have friends out there. On Wednesday, friends of the two girls laid flowers on the riverbank.
"She was a really good role model and always had a smile on her face." Joss Richards, 13, was in the same school class as Tonibeth. "She did not have a bad bone in her body, she was really, really nice," he said. "She had a wicked sense of humour and she always had a cheeky laugh about her."
The police said Chloe had gone into the water first and then Tonibeth went in to help her friend. The headteachers of the schools the girls attended also paid tribute.
Superintendent Alan Veitch of Northumbria police said: "Chloe went in first, Tonibeth and others went in to help her. Tony Cunningham, headteacher at Oxclose Community academy, said: "Chloe was a popular pupil who had many friends in school. She was determined to succeed in everything she set her mind to and she will be sadly missed by staff and pupils alike."
"Tonibeth got into difficulties and so have the others." Tonibeth had attended Oxclose academy in year 7, but had moved to Washington school. Her headteacher, John Hallworth, said: "The thoughts and prayers of all at Washington school are with Tonibeth's parents, grandparents, wider family and friends at this tragic time of loss.
Veitch said Chloe, who was from Shiney Row, near Sunderland, got into the water of her own free will. "Tonibeth joined Washington school this year. She had settled into school life here very well and had already made a good and close group of friends.
"The emerging picture is that she went in to keep cool. "Her teachers and pastoral staff speak of a quiet and caring young lady who had a most promising future and who was looking forward to achieving a broad suite of qualifications. There is a very palpable sense of loss at school this morning."
"I think there's a lot of children who were trying to effect a rescue. It's difficult for the children who were involved in the actual incident itself as one or two of them nearly drowned." Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West, said: "This is an absolutely heartbreaking incident, and a tragic reminder of the danger of swimming in our rivers and lakes, which lots of young people are tempted to do in the hot weather.
In a statement issued through Northumbria police on Wednesday, Chloe's family paid tribute to the teenager, saying: "Chloe was a beautiful, kind and caring girl and we as a family are devastated by what has happened. "Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and my thoughts go out to the girls' families and friends at what will be an incredibly difficult time."
"We would like to thank everyone involved in helping us to look for the girls. We would ask that we are given some time and privacy to grieve." The teenagers were in the Wear at Fatfield, Washington, at about 3pm on Tuesday when they were swept away by strong currents. An off-duty policeman and a member of the public tried to save them before about 100 emergency service personnel joined the search and rescue effort.
The two girls were spotted in the water near Fatfield, Washington, Tyne and Wear, at about 3pm on Tuesday. A boy who also attempted to rescue the girls was pulled to safety by the police officer, who had been out jogging.
An off-duty policeman and a member of the public tried to save the girls before about 100 emergency service workers joined the search-and-rescue effort. Emergency services workers searched into the evening to locate the girls and, as darkness fell, a helicopter searchlight was used to scour the river.
A boy who also attempted to rescue the girls was pulled to safety by the police officer. Dozens of people had gathered on the riverbank to watch the rescue effort and were shocked as news broke that both bodies had been found.
Emergency services workers searched throughout the day to try to locate the girls, and as evening set in a helicopter searchlight was used to light up the river. Veitch said the off-duty officer who pulled the boy from the Wear told him later: "I did what anybody else would do." He said: "He is OK but it has been traumatic for him too. The boy he rescued is very deeply traumatised."
Dozens of people had gathered at the river banks to watch the rescue effort. The body of a man in his 20s was pulled from Thirlmere reservoir in Keswick, Cumbria, on Wednesday, apparently the latest victim of a spate of similar incidents this summer.
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