Thousands raised in memory of boy who died in lake

Daniel Drewitt, 16, was "handsome, funny and talented, his family said

An online fundraising page set up to support the family of a boy who died after going missing in a lake has raised more than £8,500 within 72 hours.

Daniel Drewitt, 16, was found in a pool at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, on Thursday.

West Midlands Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious and it was liaising with the coroner.

A GoFundMe page, which organisers said on Saturday was set up with permission from Daniel's parents, would help support the family during a "difficult time".

The fundraiser was initially created with the goal of raising £1,600 but quickly surpassed its target and now has a revised goal of £11,000.

In an update posted on Sunday, organiser Helena Swallow added the teenager's mother was "overwhelmed" with all the support and donations.

"The family are so very grateful, thank you so much," she added.

The 16-year-old was reported missing in Powell's Pool at about 18:00 BST on Thursday.

Emergency services were called but he died before his body was recovered from the water, the ambulance service said.

In an earlier statement, the teenager's family described him as a big Birmingham City fan who was "handsome, funny and talented".

"He had so many dreams and aspirations, and he had his whole life ahead of him," they said.

Thomas Jones, 18, disappeared nine days before his body was recovered from the River Severn

Water safety campaigner Vicki Jones, from Worcester, said it was "heartbreaking" to see it "happening again and again".

Her son, Tom, 18, drowned in the River Severn on a night out in 2018, during his first week of university.

Mrs Jones told BBC Radio WM that the teenager's death "brings it all back".

"Since we lost Tom, we've said if we could do one more thing... Just keep telling your story to stop this happening to another family then that's what we'll do," she said.

"That message needs to reach far and wide."

She urged others to be mindful in water, especially when it's cold as the shock of it could "debilitate in seconds".

"They feel like they're invincible these young adults do," she said.

"I think the message is you want them to enjoy the water, we are blessed with beautiful waterways there to be enjoyed, but they're also there to be respected," she added.