Jay Moffett: Family of boy who died in lake incident 'heartbroken'

Jay Moffett was taken to hospital after the incident in the Canal Court area of Scarva, but later died

The family of a 13-year-old boy who died after entering a lake in a County Down village said they are "heartbroken" after his death.

Jay Moffett was taken to hospital after the incident in the Canal Court area of Scarva on Monday, where he later died.

In a statement, his family said he "lit up the lives of everyone who knew him".

"We are heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Jay," they said, adding that the teenager was "a much loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin".

The family said they were grateful for the support they had received but asked to be given the "space to grieve in private".

Emergency services, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Air Ambulance and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), attended the scene on Monday.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Floral tributes have been left near the scene of the incident

Gary Magwood, of the NIFRS, told BBC News NI that crews attended a "traumatic" scene.

"Crews assisted and gave medical aid," said Mr Magwood.

"This is very traumatic for the crews and for those in the local area.

"Our condolences go out to the family."

Tullylish Amateur Boxing Club coach Tony Keeley says Jay was a "credit to his family"

He added that some of the crew members were known to the family "so I commend them on a very difficult job".

"We would remind people that there's no supervision at these locations and a lot of the locations are remote and there's unseen dangers under the surface of the water," he said.

Tony Keeley, who coached the teenager at Tullylish Amateur Boxing Club, said he "embodied everything we love about the boxers that come to our club".

"He was full of life and energy, very well mannered and ready to learn. He always had a big smile on his face," he said.

"He was a credit to his family and so full of potential. This has been very, very difficult for all of us."

The Reverend Rodney Magennis, of Loughbrickland, Donaghmore and Scarva Church of Ireland, say local people are in "total shock".

On Tuesday afternoon the local Church of Ireland opened to allow the community a time and place to grieve.

The Reverend Rodney Magennis, of Loughbrickland, Donaghmore and Scarva Church of Ireland, said local people were in "total shock".

"It's a small community. Everyone knows everyone and they feel the pain that this family is going through," he said.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP for the area Carla Lockhart said the news was "devastating".

"They are young boys and our thoughts are with his friends," she said.

"Any loss of life is tragic but to hear of a young boy aged 13 just in the prime of his life doing what so many other kids and young people are doing at the moment."