Devastated friends pay tribute to ‘one in a million’ boy, 14, who drowned trying to save pal, 13, after he fell in river
TRIBUTES have poured in for a “one in a million” 14-year-old lad who drowned while trying to save his pal.
David Radut died after jumping into the River Tyne at Ovingham, Northumberland, on Saturday afternoon.
A group of friends were believed to be messing about on a rope swing over the river when both teenagers went missing in the water.
The incident sparked a huge emergency response before the 13-year-old was rescued from the water.
He was rushed to hospital where he remains in a critical condition before David’s body was recovered by emergency services.
Tributes have flooded in following David’s death, with friends remembering him as “one of the nicest boys I know”.
One wrote on Facebook: “Rest easy David Radut until we meet again and when we do don’t take my shoes off me and call me little legs, haha forever a big miss.”
Another said: “Rest in peace David Radut you never failed to make me laugh one of the nicest boys I know I’ll miss you ringing at stupid o’clock in the morning asking me to come live on Insta with you and winding me up 24/7.
“Hope heaven treats u well rest easy our boy.”
A third said: “Rest in peace ma cuzzin since day 1 been there for me gonna miss u.”
While a fourth added: “Awh honestly i miss him sm he always had a smile on his face always rang me make sure i was okay FOREVER14.”
Pictures show flowers left at the scene of the horror.
The tragedy prompted someone to chop down the tree that the rope swing was attached to.
Northumberland County Council have confirmed it was not responsible for the move.