Let it happen again’
as soon as possible. He said: “We urgently need to raise the money needed to make the lake and the surrounding area safe. The rest can wait.
“In the longer term, we want to see the park brought back to how it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
“But we need to see changes made to the lake now.”
David Rawsthorne said: “It is sadly too late for Ben now.
“But he is the driving force behind our campaign to make the Botanic Gardens and the lake safe for others.
“We need to see safety measures made urgently.”
Ben’s sister, Nina Thomas, said: “Speaking about Ben and what happened is an explicit reminder of what we have lost and when we lost him, we feel we lost everything.
“My Dad and I would like to sincerely thank all of you who have shown support to Ben.
“Even if Ben wasn’t the catalyst for your donation but you love the Botanic Gardens and all that it brings to our community please know that you really will have made a significant difference and we’re all really grateful for that.
“Ben would be so unbelievably embarrassed about all of this.
“If there is a heaven I can imagine him flustered and redfaced, wondering what on God’s green earth was going on.
“What I do know for sure is that the embarrassment would be matched by an incredible sense of pride for his friend David Rawsthorne and what he has managed to achieve so far in his memory.
“Grief is an unimaginable weight to carry so David has shown an incredible strength channelling his own grief in such a positive way and he deserves so much credit for that.
“Well done David, he would be so proud of you.”
Botanic Gardens Community Association Chairman David Codham said: “We have received some great support from local people and local companies to ensure the continued maintenance of the park over the last 10 years, for the provision of flowers, to enable us to keep the public toilets open, to carry out the refurbishment of the aviary. They have got involved, which has really helped.
“Now we really need support to clear the lake, repair the bridges and to install water aeration features and make it a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone.”
To donate, please visit the Botanic Gardens Fundraiser GoFundMe page here.
You can join the “Make a change” For Ben - Campaign To Get Botanic Gardens Lake Cleaned Facebook group.