Enagh Lough: Two teenage boys drown after getting into difficulty

The victims have been named locally as Joseph Sebastian (left) and Reuven Simon

Two 16-year-old boys have died after getting into difficulty at Enagh Lough, close to Londonderry.

They have been named locally as Reuven Simon and Joseph Sebastian.

One of the boys was taken from the water and transferred to Altnagelvin Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The second boy was pronounced dead at the scene after being recovered from the water after searches by Foyle Search and Rescue and police divers.

Police said another boy was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries, which are not believed to be life threatening. Three other boys were also at the scene.

It is understood the group had stopped at the lough while cycling in the area.

'Unimaginable grief'

Emergency services were called to Temple Road at about 18:30 BST on Monday.

The fire service said on arrival they were informed that two teenage boys were missing in the water about 5m (16ft) from the end of a jetty.

They said members of their water rescue team joined other emergency crews in the lough and they were able to recover one of the boys within 20 minutes. He was transferred to hospital but did not survive.

The search continued and a body was recovered just before midnight.

Police said enquiries were ongoing but at this stage, it appeared to be a tragic drowning incident.

It is believed the boys went out cycling before stopping to swim in the lough

The taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has offered his condolences to the boys' families.

"Our hearts go out to their families in terms of the unimaginable grief they are suffering," Micheál Martin said.

"We can all imagine people going out to enjoy a beautiful summer's afternoon - for it to end in such tragedy when people are availing of and using a water amenity which we have all done at different times".

Fr Michael Canny said the boys' families were devastated

Waterside parish priest Fr Michael Canny said the tragedy would be felt all over the city.

He said the families were traumatised and absolutely devastated.

"They are part of the Indian Keralese community who worship here at St Columb's in Waterside," he said.

"It's an awful tragedy and there is tremendous sadness all round."

There are between 150 to 200 families from the southern Indian region of Kerala living in Derry, according to the city's Kerala Association.

Many are members of the Syro Malabar Church community who worship at St Columb's.

'Devastation'

Bishop Of Derry Donal McKeown said it was difficult to find any words to help comfort the families and the wider Indian Keralese community.

"You let them cry, you listen to what they have to say and you don't comment or try to interject," Bishop McKeown said.

Both boys were pupils at St Columb's College in the city.

Principal Finbar Madden described "shock and sadness" within the school at the "heartbreaking loss of two of our incoming Year 13 pupils".

"No words can express the devastation that we feel as a school community, but first and foremost our thoughts and prayers are with both boys' families, community and friends," he added.

Both boys played for Newbuildings Cricket Club.

In a statement on Facebook, the club said members were absolutely heartbroken.

"Two of the most well mannered and lovely people who it was an absolute pleasure to have in our U15s last season," the club said.

Signs of tragedy remain at lough

BBC Radio Foyle's Anna Maguire, at the scene

Yesterday was a balmy blissful end-of-summer day.

But at this lough - where six young men came to bathe in the water - a tragedy unfolded.

The water is now completely still and clear.

Six bikes are still here, propped up against trees, a bank and a fence, leading to a small jetty that leads out onto the lough.

There are a number of pairs of shoes, jackets and rucksacks lying beside the lough - all the signs of youngsters who came down to the water on a warm bank holiday evening.

Danielle Francis, from Foyle Search and Rescue, was one of the volunteers who attended the scene on Monday.

"This is a stark reminder of just how dangerous water can be," she said.

"Many people would go to that lough at the weekend, there are usually kayakers and others using it.

"These young men may not have had any idea of the depth of the water or the dangers underneath the surface."

BBC reporter Julie McCullough, who was at the scene on Tuesday, said she found one sign warning of deep water but it was not instantly visible.

'Great students'

SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan, who was at the lough on Monday night and has spoken to the families, said he understood the boys went out for a cycle and some of them went for a swim in the lough.

"These young fellas have just completed their GCSEs, they got their results last week," he said.

"They would have been looking forward to getting back to school.

"I have spoken to the school principal who said they were great students and never had a day's bother out of them."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Gary Middleton described it as a devastating tragedy.

Sinn Féin assembly member Ciara Ferguson said the thoughts and prayers of everyone in Derry were with the families.

Alliance councillor Rachael Ferguson said the community was shocked and saddened.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service medical director Dr Nigel Ruddell told BBC Radio Foyle a number of specialist crews, including the air ambulance, had been dispatched to attend the bank holiday Monday incident.

The North West Migrants Forum said both families were known to the organisation.

"We can only imagine the incalculable pain they are feeling today," it said.

"Prayers are with the entire Kerala community as they try to make sense of this awful tragedy," it said in a post on Facebook.