‘We tried all we could to save you, pal’
Friends’ tribute after teen drowns in reservoir tragedy
HEARTBREAKING tributes have been left at the site where a 16-year-old boy tragically drowned.
Paul Lawson from Wardle died on Monday night at Greenbooth Reservoir after getting into difficulty in the water.
His friends desperately tried to save the Manchester United fan and underwater search teams were on the scene within minutes but tragically he didn’t survive.
Now pals have left touching messages and floral tributes for the Hopwood Hall College student at the beauty spot where he lost his life.
A row of flowers now line the brick wall overlooking the reservoir, with heartwrenching messages left inside for the talented footballer.
One note, tucked amongst a bunch of flowers, reads ‘RIP Paul mate, we tried all we could to save you pal.’
Another says: ‘RIP mate, you’ll be missed by many Paulx, , while another says ‘RIP, lots of love.’
A major emergency services operation was launched after the alarm was raised shortly before 6pm on Monday evening.
The fire service said a number of specialist firefighters were sent to the scene alongside a mountain rescue team.
They included a technical rescue unit from Ashton fire station and a specialist water rescue unit based at Heywood fire station in Rochdale.
Paramedics from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) were also called.
At that point Paul had been under the water for five minutes.
Divers searched the water, but tragically discovered his body.
The moorland beauty spot, part of the Naden Valley and owned by United Utilities, is popular with ramblers and dog walkers but does also attract youngsters, especially in periods of hot weather. There have been water rescues and injuries at the reservoir before. The tragedy, on one of the hottest days of the year, happened as the Canal and River Trust issued a warning to young people to stay out of open water this summer. The charity said youngsters risk their lives by jumping into canals, rivers and reservoirs to cool down during heatwaves. Statistics show 400 people drown in the UK every year - and more than half of the fatalities happen at inland water sites such as canals, rivers, lakes, quarries and reservoirs.