Family pay tribute to special boy after lake death

The family of Sonny Leese Clark described him as a "kind, good-natured boy"

A boy who died after he went missing at a lake had been looking forward to the next chapter of his life, his family have said.

Police said the body of Sonny Leese Clark, 17, had been discovered following a search of Rudyard Lake, near Leek, in Staffordshire, on Sunday.

Officers had been there since Saturday evening after three boys were spotted in the water.

Staffordshire Police said the other two youngsters were taken to hospital and have since been discharged.

The teenager was spending time with his two friends at the site on Friday, when the group got into difficulty and fell in the water, police said.

Sonny's family described him as a "lovely, kind, good-natured boy".

"Always helpful, adventurous, fearless and quick to smile. You were a very special and wonderful brother to your siblings, and our lives are diminished for your loss," they wrote in a tribute issued by police.

"We love you and always will. Seventeen and his life was just beginning the next chapter, his book was too short.”

Officers searching the lake found the body of a missing teenager

Sonny was a student at Leek High School.

"We will come together as a school and support each other through the news and the loss," Head Teacher Kevin Graham said.

"The loss and devastation for the family is immeasurable and we cannot imagine the despair and hurt that they feel.

"This truly is a tragedy of an amazing young man with a shining future. A good person and student. We are bereft."

The teenager was a student at Leek High School

Ch Insp Mark Barlow, of Staffordshire Police, said officers made the discovery of the body just after 17:00 GMT on Sunday.

"This is a tragic case and one which I know will cause a great deal of sorrow in the local community," Ch Insp Barlow said.

"Our priority now is about making sure we can do everything possible to support the boy's family."

Search efforts involved emergency services and volunteers, police said

The lake is home to Rudyard Sailing Club, which provides water sports activities.

Jane Hill, a senior club member, previously said the water "goes very, very deep, very, very quickly".

She warned people not to go into water with low temperatures without thermal protection.