Body of teenager, 16, pulled from river in Castleford

Teenage boy is third to die in river in as many years

A 16-year-old’s body was pulled from the River Calder on Wednesday (YappApp screengrab)

The body of a 16-year-old boy has been recovered from a river in Castleford, police have said.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the River Calder just before 7pm on Wednesday evening, to a report of concern for the safety of a male in the water.

The emergency services attended the scene, close to where the A639 crosses the river, and were witnessed using drones and several rigid-hull inflatable rafts to search for the teenager.

His body was pulled from the water shortly before 8:30pm, according to police, who said his family are being supported by officers.

During last July’s heatwave, 16-year-old Alfie McCraw drowned in the same waterway just over a mile away from Wednesday’s incident. It came after Tomi Solomon, aged 13, died in the river the previous year, prompting police to issue a warning about the potential dangers of open water swimming.

At the inquest into Tomi’s death, his mother Frida Ndabue accused authorities of “negligence” for not putting up warning signs on the bridge he jumped from, with the coroner echoing her concerns.

According to the voluntary National Water Safety Forum, a total of 226 people died in UK waterways in 2022 in situations where accidents or natural causes were suspected, 61 of whom were under the age of 25.

In a statement about Wednesday’s fatal incident, West Yorksire Police said: “Police were called to the River Calder off Leeds Road, Castleford, at 6.58pm this evening to a report of a concern for safety for a male in the water.

Emergency services used drones and rafts to search for the boy (YappApp screengrab)

“Emergency services attended at the scene and shortly before 8.30pm a body was recovered from the water. It is understood to be that of a 16-year-old boy.

“His family are aware and being supported by officers. We would ask that people are considerate of his family at this difficult time.

“Police are making enquiries into this incident and would ask that anyone who witnessed any part of what has taken place contact Wakefield District CID via 101 Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log 1652 of 24/05.”