The body of a missing 17-year-old boy has been tragically recovered from Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire by the diligent efforts of the local police force.
Staffordshire Police responded to a distress call concerning three teenage boys seen in the water at Rudyard Lake, a reservoir situated northwest of Leek. The call came shortly after 9:30 pm on Saturday. While two of the teenagers, also believed to be around 17 years old, managed to extricate themselves from the lake, they were subsequently hospitalized after being assessed by paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Specialist search teams, along with support from the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, embarked on a mission to locate the third teenager. Their exhaustive efforts resulted in the recovery of the boy’s body shortly after 5:00 pm on Sunday. Staffordshire Police have stated that they are not treating the death as suspicious and have deployed specialist officers to provide support to the grieving family.
Chief Inspector Mark Barlow, representing the Moorlands local policing team, expressed condolences, stating, “Our thoughts and condolences are very much with the boy’s family at this distressing time.” He further acknowledged the extensive efforts of the officers and emergency service personnel who worked tirelessly throughout the night to resolve the situation.
Barlow extended gratitude to the members of the public who cooperated with authorities by respecting the cordon and avoiding the area during the operation. He emphasized that the priority now is to offer comprehensive support to the family affected by this tragic loss.
The lake area has been cordoned off, and authorities are advising the public to steer clear of the vicinity while investigations continue. The Rudyard Lake Trust announced via Facebook that the park and its facilities would remain closed to pedestrians and vehicles until further notice.
The National Police Air Service provided assistance during the initial search on Saturday but are no longer involved in the operation.
Local councillor Joe Porter expressed his condolences on social media, stating, “That’s awful news. Praying for all those involved.”
