Latest news with #SirJohnLemanHighSchool
ITV News
08-08-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Tributes paid to Ezra Tilford-Key who died while swimming at Norfolk Broads beauty spot
Tributes have been paid to a man who died after getting into difficulty in water at a beauty spot. Ezra-Tilford-Key, who was 23, died on Tuesday evening while swimming at Horstead Mill on the Norfolk Broads. His brother Jacob wrote on Facebook: "To anyone who knew my bestest little baby brother he passed away last night I never thought I'd ever have to say good bye Ezra. "So please everyone who is thinking it's fun to go to the rivers always be extra careful please as this could happen to anyone. Rest in peace brother." A GoFundMe page has been set up by a family friend Holly Sandiford. It hopes to raise £4,500 to help Ezra's family cover funeral costs. Paying tribute to her friend, she wrote: "Ezra was a kind soul with a big heart and a truly lovely smile. Someone who brought light, warmth, and joy into the lives of those around him. "The outpouring of love since his passing is a reflection of the impact he had on so many. "No family is ever prepared for something like this. As his loved ones face the unimaginable pain of losing him, they are now also facing the financial weight of arranging a funeral no parent should ever have to plan." The spot on the broads close to Horstead Mill, is popular with wild swimmers, kayakers and paddleboarders, but can be dangerous due to a strong current below the sluice. Mr Tilford-Key's death comes just a month after Nischay Patel died in the Rver Waveney in Beccles, Suffolk. The 14-year-old, who was a pupil at the Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, had been playing with his twin brother, Niyam, and friends in but did not resurface and
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Funeral held for 'remarkable' teenager after Beccles river death
Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a teenager who died in a river. Nischay Patel, 14, had been swimming with friends in the river Waveney at Beccles Quay on the evening of 3 friends and fellow pupils of Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, where Nischay was a year 9 student, came together at the Waveney Memorial Park to pay their respects to the much-loved boy.A tribute from his parents, Ketan and Praptiben Patel, said: "He touched our lives with his unwavering kindness, gentle wisdom and boundless love." A private Hindu ceremony took place on Saturday morning, followed by a memories service and then his funeral, attended by everyone to pay their final Patel family, who own a newsagents in Beccles, said in a Facebook tribute: "This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers."Flowers and tributes were left at Beccles Quay and outside the family's shop. An online fund set up by two women who knew Nischay and his family has raised almost £14,000 to Bird and Layla Eales set up the appeal to help his family cover any lost income and funeral costs, with the remainder being used on life-saving equipment at the riverside - and a memorial bench. Richard Crozier, a former teacher at Notre Dame High School in Norwich and who owns a shop adjacent to the family's shop, said: "It was immediately obvious that Nischay had a spirit, a kind of life force, which is very rare in a young lad."He and his brother worked as a team, changing students' minds and attitudes in the most subtle of ways. "He was magical in his ability to communicate. A remarkable, remarkable boy."He said Nischay's popularity was evident in the numbers of young people who attended his funeral."He was a real leader of people," Mr Crozier added, "and would have been, I'm absolutely convinced, quite a national figure." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Parents pay tribute to 14-year-old boy who died swimming in river after going to play with his twin
The grieving parents of a 14-year-old schoolboy who died whilst swimming in a Suffolk river have paid tribute to him as they described their 'unimaginable loss'. Nishcay Patel was swimming in Beccles Quay near Fen Lane with friends and his teenage brother when the incident occurred at around 7.30pm on Wednesday. He entered the River Waveney while playing with his twin brother Niyam, but failed to resurface. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene as onlookers desperately tried to help the group of youngsters. But despite their best efforts, Nishcay, named locally, tragically died at the scene. His parents Ketan and Prabtiben Patel, who own a newsagents in Beccles, shared a heartbreaking statement in which they described the loss of their son as 'unimaginable'. They said: 'We are deeply grateful to the Police, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, East of England Ambulance Service, and HM Coastguard for their swift and compassionate response during this incredibly painful time. 'Our heartfelt thanks also go out to the wonderful people of Beccles and those from across the country who have shown us so much kindness, love, and support. 'The outpouring of sympathy—from kind words and beautiful flowers to thoughtful gestures—has brought immense comfort to our family. 'We would especially like to thank Sir John Leman High School, Thirst Youth Hub, the Beccles Community UK Facebook page, and the local newspapers for their continued support and compassion. 'This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers. 'Your compassion has touched our hearts more deeply than words can express. 'To everyone who has supported our family—particularly the emergency services and those who went above and beyond—please accept our sincerest gratitude. 'As we take time to process this tragedy, we kindly ask for privacy and space, knowing your continued support surrounds us.' Richard Crozier, 80 , a friend of the family told the Sun it was a 'terrible tragedy', adding: 'Nischay was a special person. He had a capacity for friendship across generations. 'He wasn't a boy of great numbers of words but he was a very tender-hearted lad.' Flowers and cards have been left at the scene by locals and wellwishers.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Phenomenal' response to fund after Beccles 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 teenager was in the River Waveney at Beccles, Suffolk, on Wednesday when he failed to resurface. His body was found by emergency services that 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 rescue attempts, the body of the boy, a Year 9 pupil at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, was later recovered from the 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." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
