Mother stumbled upon scene where teen son drowned in reservoir in 'cruel' accident

A WOMAN who came across a group of youngsters stranded on a reservoir later learned that she had witnessed a tragic accident in which her teenage son had drowned.

James Goodship with mother MelanieMelanie Goodship with son James [CAVENDISH]

Melanie Goodship, 40, was walking her dogs near Lake Burwain in Colne, Lancashire, when she saw a group of screaming teenagers on a raft on June 22.

It was only after the group were rescued that she heard her son James, 17, had disappeared under the freezing water while attempting to swim for help with a friend.

The friend was rescued and treated for hypothermia, but James' body was discovered in the reservoir the following morning.

The group had been walking around the lake when they spotted a raft made of wood and plastic barrels by a boathouse and decided to take it onto the water.

In a statement read at the inquest in Burnley, Keaton Greaves, 16, said that they could not control the craft, which they estimated was around 50m from the shore.

James GoodshipJames died while swimming for help [MERCURY]

He said: "I decided to try to swim to shore to get help. James said he was going to swim as well. I sat down on the edge of the raft and slipped into the water. 

"I took a couple of strokes out into the water and James dived in after me." 

He added that James had taken his T-shirt off but had kept his trainers on. 

Keaton said: "I started to feel exhausted, the weight of clothes weighing me down, pulling me down." 

He said that the pair then decided to swim back to the raft.

He said: "I was so tired. I knew I wasn't going to make it to the shore. I could hear James but I couldn't see him. As I got near the raft I was really struggling. I have never felt anything like it, it just froze your body, I couldn't move, it was horrible."

Lake Burwain reservoirLake Burwain reservoir [CAVENDISH]

Sadly this goes to show what started out as having fun and messing around can end in tragedy

The inquest heard Keaton was pulled aboard and lay on the raft "freezing cold" as his friends tried to warm him up. 

The statement added: "I heard the others shouting 'go on you're nearly there' I couldn't see where he was. I did hear him shout for help at one point. I knew when I heard him he was in trouble because I knew how he felt. 

"The others on the boat saw him go under, when he didn't come up everyone started crying." 

Mrs Goodship said: "Sadly this goes to show what started out as having fun and messing around can end in tragedy. I just hope lessons can be learnt. 

"When we were walking the dogs around the reservoir we saw all the commotion but not for one minute did we know it might be James until we saw a couple of his friends. 

"All his friends watched it happen. It's terrible. I wouldn't want any family to go through what we have. If we can just get the education out there to the children of the dangers of open water, that is one of the most important things for us." 

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor said: "This appears to me to be a very very cruel accident that has taken this young man away." 

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