Call for inquiry into North drowning

There have been calls for an investigation after a teenager said to be fleeing from police drowned in the North last night.

There have been calls for an investigation after a teenager said to be fleeing from police drowned in the North last night.

The teenager has been named locally as Kyle Bonnes (15) from the Tullyally area of Derry.

Urging an inquiry into the drowning, SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan said: “Given the circumstances of his death it will be important for the family, the public interest and the PSNI themselves that it should be investigated independently and authoritatively by the Police Ombudsman.”

“This is a terrible tragedy, to hear of a young life lost, and our hearts must go out to the family of this boy," he added.

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It is believed the teenager had been trying to swim across the River Faughan when he was overwhelmed by the current. The river where the tragedy happened was fast-flowing at the time because of heavy rain in recent days.

The victim had left the scene of a disturbance that had been reported to the PSNI. Police were called to a disturbance in the Glenshane Road area of Drumahoe, Co Derry, just before 5pm yesterday. When they reached the scene two men made off and one of them entered the River Faughan.

Police officers attempted to assist the young man, who got into difficulty in the water. He was pulled from the river in an unconscious state but later died at around 6.30pm.

A PSNI spokeswoman said the police ombudsman had been informed of the death.

Sinn Féin Foyle representative and Policing Board member Martina Anderson offered her sympathy to the young man's family.

Ms Anderson added: "It is important that the investigation is concluded as soon as possible so that the circumstances surrounding this tragedy is made available without undue delay."