The parents of a 15-year-old boy who died in Carlisle’s River Eden have paid tribute to their kind, caring and funny son.
Lewis Kirkpatrick was with three other teenage boys had got into difficulty in the river near Rosehill on Friday evening.
Lewis went missing, sparking a major search. One of the boys, aged 14, was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries. One of the group managed to swim to safety, while another was rescued safely by a member of the public. Both were checked over by medical professionals.
Lewis’ parents Nichola and Paul Kirkpatrick said Lewis always had a cheeky and infectious smile.
They said: “Lewis was the baby of the family and his death has left a gaping hole that can never be filled.
“Lewis was a loving son, brother of Kyle and Nathan, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, friend, and boyfriend of Kiara.”
The family have expressed their gratitude to the emergency services and agencies that helped in the search for Lewis and, in particular, the member of the public who risked his own life to try to help the boys.
The family said that they were overwhelmed by all of the messages of support that they have received.
They would like to say a huge thank you to all of the Carlisle United and Stockport County fans for their moving tribute to Lewis at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Fans gave a round of applause for Lewis at the 15-minute mark of the game.
Nichola and Paul said they would also like to draw attention to the danger of rivers and how in the warm weather, the water may look inviting but can be deadly.
They said: “We don’t want any other families to suffer the same, awful loss.”
