High Force Death Teenager Is Named

15 June 2016, 13:52 | Updated: 15 June 2016, 13:53

Durham Police have named a 16-year-old boy who died after swimming below a picturesque waterfall with his brothers and friends.

Curtis Atherton, from Hartlepool, got into difficulty in the pool below High Force in Teesdale, County Durham, at around 8pm on Tuesday.

The area is popular with visitors and can be spectacular with water flowing down the River Tees dropping around 70ft (21m).

Police, fire crews, air support and mountain rescue specialists joined the search of the river.

He was found in the water following a major search operation at 9.45pm but died at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough later.

Peter Bell, of Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team, told the Northern Echo the boy was ``some distance from the bank'' when he was found.

The water levels were not exceptionally high for the time of year but nor were they low, Mr Bell said.

He warned of the dangers of swimming in cold water, telling the newspaper: ``Even the best swimmers can get affected by cold water shock.''