School pays tribute to tragic Lewis killed in waterfall plunge

15-yr-old ‘a really good lad’ says devastated principal

A TRAGIC teenager who died after plunging from a waterfall was remembered yesterday as “a really good lad”.

Lewis Fleming, from Co Antrim, was on holiday with his family in the Powerscourt area of Co Wicklow when he fell on Wednesday afternoon.

The 15-year-old attended Coleraine Grammar School and its students and staff are mourning the loss of their friend and pupil.

Principal Dr David Carruthers said the community was “devastated” to hear of the tragedy.

He said: “Lewis had a wide circle of friends in school and we’ll be helping to support those pupils as we return in a couple of weeks’ time.

“Lewis was a lovely fella, just a happy-go-lucky, cheerful sort of guy.

“Often between teachers and pupils there’s a bit of a gap between us but Lewis wasn’t like that at all.

“He was always happy to have a chat and had a great sense of fun.

“He was heavily involved in school life, playing rugby and athletics and swimming.

“He was just a really good lad and good fun to be with.”

For Lewis’ friends, who are returning to school amidst the uncertainty of Covid-19, his untimely death brings added sadness and concern.

Dr Carruthers said: “He was going into Year 12, which would have been GCSES, and obviously we’ve been out of school since March 20 so that has added to the sense of anticipation in coming back to school and everybody getting to see their friends again.

“So we’ll make sure we do everything we can to support his circle of friends who are going to feel this very, very keenly.”

Lewis was also a keen swimmer and a member of Ballymoney Swimming Club. In a statement, Swim Ulster said members were “deeply saddened” by the news.

It added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with him mum Gillian, dad Angus, brothers Aaron and Harris and the family circle at this difficult time.”