Enagh Lough tragedy: Boy's mother calls for improved safety
- Published
Reuven Simon (left) and Joseph Sebastian (right) died after getting into difficulty at Enagh Lough in August 2022
The mother of one of two boys who drowned in County Londonderry last summer has called for improved safety measures at Enagh Lough.
Reuven Simon and Joseph Sebastian were swimming in the water on 29 August 2022 when they got into difficulty.
"We don't want to lose any more life in that lake," Reuven's mother Saly Kuruvilla told BBC News NI.
On Tuesday white balloons with messages such as "gone but not forgotten" were released after a prayer service.
The local council have said a number of "short-term recommendations" have since been implemented from a safety report.
Previously, Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) convened a multi-agency meeting in October 2022 to address safety concerns at the site in the wake of the tragedy.
Attendees at that meeting heard that while the council does not own any of the land at Enagh Lough, and has "no statutory responsibility for waterways," it has taken a proactive approach to bring together interested parties to discuss safety measures.
In a recent statement to BBC News NI, DCSDC said that since that meeting "a scoping exercise" was commissioned late last year to be carried out by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
The council has said they have since erected signage at the site, carried out school safety programmes and engaged in a social media campaign promoting water safety.
They added that further meetings of a multi-agency partnership will be reconvened in the Autumn to consider the longer-term water safety interventions across the city and district.
Mrs Kuruvilla's calls for improved safety at the lough comes as an anniversary Mass will be held at St Columb's Church in Londonderry on Tuesday, one year on from the tragedy.
Reuven's mother says the support of the community, and of work colleagues at Altnagelvin hospital has been a tremendous support for the family
Mrs Kuruvilla said she does not want to see the lake in which her son died again but believes safety improvements can be made in and around Enagh Lough.
"We heard a lot about that water after this tragedy. Nothing before this tragedy. We want to get something done".
The family, she said, "enjoyed each and every minute" they shared with their son.
"I strongly believe he is with me, everywhere wherever I go," she said.
"Until I lose my memory he will be in my thoughts".
Mr Simon says losing his son was like a 'knife in my heart'
Reuven's dad Joshy Simon said the day of the tragedy "seems like yesterday" and said the pain feels still as raw as it did on that day.
"Even after this year past, I cannot describe my pain and agony," he said.
For the first few months after his son's death, Mr Simon said "there was no life and only grief".
Even with the passing of time, he said, Reuven's "physical absence, is absolutely like a knife in my heart".
Joseph's s dad Sebastian says their family will never be the same after losing their son
Joseph's dad Sebastian Jose described the teenager as "just a lovely boy" who was loved.
"It's unusual because he was with us and then all of a sudden he just disappeared and you can't even think about it," he said.
"Your whole life changed - it's something that words can't explain as a family".
Mr Jose said the anniversary of Sebastien's death is "particularly hard" for his family.
Fr Michael Canny says the first anniversary is a challenging time for the boys' families
Waterside parish priest Fr Michael Canny said both families have been left with "a sadness of heart".
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Fr Canny said the first anniversary was a "challenging time" for the families.
"It has been difficult, a very challenging year for them," he said.
"We see them at church and we see them on other occasions, you know there is a sadness of heart with them, even though a year has passed."
Fr Canny said the support for the families, who are from the Indian Keralan community in Derry, has "not waned over the past year".
- Published30 August 2022
- Published27 April 2023
