‘OUR LITTLE BOY’ 

Boy, 12, who died in river is pictured as nine youngsters and hero grandad killed in heatwave tragedies

A 12-YEAR-old who tragically died in a river has been pictured – as nine youngsters are killed in heatwave tragedies over the past few days.

A brave grandad also died over the Bank Holiday weekend while trying to save his nine-year-old granddaughter in the sea, his family has revealed.

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Junior Slater, 12, vanished while swimming with friends in the River Ribble
 

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A huge search operation was carried out at the River Ribble yesterday for another teenagerCredit: Ben Lack
Junior Slater, 12, vanished while swimming with friends in the River Ribble, in Lancashire, yesterday afternoon.

Emergency crews, including underwater search units, were scrambled to the river near Ribchester just after 2pm.

Junior’s body was sadly pulled from the water several hours later, Ribble Valley Police confirmed.

Issuing a statement through the force, Junior’s heartbroken family hailed him as the “soul of our lives”.

It read: “Our little blue-eyed boy. He will be truly missed.”

“He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can’t describe how we are feeling right now. We will forever love you Junior.”

Phil Crow, 68, also lost his life after running into the water when his granddaughter and wife were pulled out to sea on Monday.

The grandad tragically went into cardiac arrest in the sea at Tregirls Beach in Padstow, Cornwall, at around 3.50pm.

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Phil Crow, 68, died as he bravely entered the water to rescue his granddaughter on MondayCredit: Facebook
 

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Eight youngsters have tragically died in heatwave tragedies over the past few daysCredit: SWNS
Around 15 members of the public ran to help and managed to pull his granddaughter to safety.

His wife of 50 years Tina was rescued by a passing boat.

Tina, 68, said the family were playing in the sea when they got into difficulty, and Phil pushed his granddaughter to safety.

She told the MailOnline: “We were jumping up with the waves then all of a sudden we couldn’t hit the floor when we landed.

“It was deeper and was pulling us out. He was shouting at her to lay on her back but she couldn’t stand.

“He pushed her to safety, but doing so meant he couldn’t get back himself.”

Phil’s daughter Mel paid tribute saying “he died a hero”.

The retired stonemason leaves behind 11 brothers and sisters and five grandchildren.

It comes after eight youngers passed away in separate tragedies after getting into difficulty in water at popular beauty spots in the hot weather.

A 13-year-old boy, two girls and a boy aged 15, a girl aged 16, and another teenage boy were pulled from water over the past few days.

A teenage boy, 17, was also pulled from water at Pickmere Lake, near Northwich, at 4.50pm on Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Jamie Lewis from Cheshire Police said: “This was a young boy who had his entire life ahead of him.

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Reco Puttock was rushed to hospital after he was pulled from Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West YorkshireCredit: Ben Lack
 

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Reco tragically died in hospital after he was pulled from the waterCredit: UKNIP
“At what is an incredibly difficult time, our thoughts remain with the boy’s family, friends and everyone who knew him.”

He added: “Over the bank holiday weekend, we have sadly seen the very real dangers of swimming in open water.

“We understand that with the warm weather many people could be tempted to take a dip in open water to cool off, but residents must be aware of the potential deadly consequences.”

The body of Declan Sawyer, 15, was found by police on May 24 after they conducted an extensive search of Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln.

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Abbie Carmody-Pepper, 15, vanished at Burrow Beach in Howth, Dublin, with friends after entering the waterCredit: rip.ie
 

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The body of Declan Sawyer, 15, was found by police on Sunday after they conducted an extensive search of Swanholme Lakes in LincolnCredit: Facebook
Abbie Carmody-Pepper, 15, vanished at Burrow Beach in Howth, Dublin, with friends after entering the water.

Emergency services also raced to Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire, just after 6pm on Monday following concerns for the welfare of a girl in the water.

Sadly, the 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after her body was recovered at around 7.20pm, according to Warwickshire Police.

A 13-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being pulled from Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West Yorkshire, yesterday afternoon.

The teen, who has since been named as Reco Puttock, tragically passed away in hospital, despite the best efforts of medics.

His mum – Sam Puttock – paid a heartfelt tribute to her lad yesterday, saying he was close to his three siblings, “especially with his big sister”.

In another tragedy, emergency services rushed to Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, at around 7pm on Monday, following reports of a missing boy.

Tragically, a body was later recovered from the water as cops searched for the missing lad.

And this afternoon, cops confirmed they found a body in the search for a lad who vanished after going swimming in Hawley Lake near Farnborough.

Cops had scrambled at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

A 15-year-old girl is also fighting for her life in hospital after getting into difficulty in the water off Formby beach.

Emergency services were called to the beach in Merseyside on Monday afternoon after the alarm was raised by members of the public.

The teen girl was rescued from the water and rushed to hospital for treatment.

She remains in a critical condition at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, cops said.

Members of the public reportedly leapt into action when the girl began struggling and assisted her and her family, police said.

Merseyside Police is offering its gratitude to the heroic bystanders who worked to help the youngster.