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| Body of boy, 11, pulled from Rotherham canal was 'tombstoning' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The body of an 11-year-old boy pulled from a canal in Rotherham was tombstoning off a bridge with a group of friends, firefighters have said. | |
| Emergency services were called to the canal, off Stone Row Way, at about 19:00 BST on Thursday after reports of a child going into the water. | |
| His body was found four hours later. South Yorkshire Police said: "The circumstances are under investigation". | His body was found four hours later. South Yorkshire Police said: "The circumstances are under investigation". |
| South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said it was unfortunate he was taking part. | |
| Watch manager Gary Willoughby said: "This 11-year-old boy was actually taking part in a pastime that boys of his age call tombstoning. | |
| "It's a very dangerous pastime. Unfortunately this boy lost his life. I have heard of other people that end up in wheelchairs for the rest of their life." | |
| "I'd like to send my condolences to his family at this time." | |
| Mr Willoughby urged people to "stay away" from swimming in canals and rivers when there are no life guards. | |
| "Unfortunately it's aptly named. It's jumping from unknown heights into unknown depths of water. | |
| "They tend to jump straight into the water. | |
| "They don't assess the water temperature, they don't see if there are any dangers hidden under the water - shopping trolleys, cars, anything like that, any reeds they might get tangled in. | |
| "They don't even assess how deep the water is before they jump." | |
| He said he could not confirm reports if another boy was taken to hospital following the incident, behind the Parkgate shopping park. | |
| Mr Willoughby said he was campaigning for safety measures including combination locks that can be accessed by ringing 999 along dangerous watercourses. | |
| The boy's family has been informed and are being supported by officers, police said. | The boy's family has been informed and are being supported by officers, police said. |
| A stretch of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation canal, close to a path which crosses the canal over a metal bridge, was thought to have been the centre of the rescue operation. | |