Family 'devastated' after son's lake death

The family of Alex Crook said they wanted to raise awareness of the dangers of open waters after his death

The family of a 15-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in a lake say they are "devastated" by his death and want to raise awareness of the dangers of open water.

Alex Crook from Wigan was pulled from Scotman's Flash by staff from a water sports centre on Saturday.

His father, Neil Crook, said he had been in the water with friends on the canal side of the lake when he got into difficulty, and was not taking part in any arranged water sports activities

In a tribute he said his family were "all in shock" after the death of their much-loved son.

Staff from the Scotman's Flash water sports centre had tried to save the schoolboy

Mr Crook said Alex and his friends had been stood in the water at waist height, before moving into part of the lake which dropped off steeply.

He said there were no warning signs in the area where Alex was pulled from the water.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police found there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Mr Crook said he wanted to get a message out to other families about the dangers of open water, adding "it is not the first time something like this has happened".

A crowdfunding page has been set up by his aunt Rachel Maron to help support Alex's parents.

"As you can imagine trying to sort a funeral for your 15-year-old son is something no-one should ever have to do," she wrote on the page, which has so far raised more than £4,000.