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| Trapped teenager dies in flooding | Trapped teenager dies in flooding |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 17-year-old boy has died after being trapped in flood water in Oxfordshire. | A 17-year-old boy has died after being trapped in flood water in Oxfordshire. |
| Emergency crews were called to Eastfield Road, Witney, on Tuesday evening after two boys became trapped in a culvert during flash flooding. | Emergency crews were called to Eastfield Road, Witney, on Tuesday evening after two boys became trapped in a culvert during flash flooding. |
| Max Sullivan-Webb, of Judds Close, died despite the efforts of fire crews who were up to their necks in water as almost a month's rainfall hit the area. | Max Sullivan-Webb, of Judds Close, died despite the efforts of fire crews who were up to their necks in water as almost a month's rainfall hit the area. |
| The second boy was taken to hospital and later discharged. Max's family said they were "devastated" by his loss. | The second boy was taken to hospital and later discharged. Max's family said they were "devastated" by his loss. |
| In a statement released through the police it said: "Max was just like any other teenager, he loved music, computer games and riding his BMX with his mates. But in other ways he was a real individual and didn't follow the crowd. | In a statement released through the police it said: "Max was just like any other teenager, he loved music, computer games and riding his BMX with his mates. But in other ways he was a real individual and didn't follow the crowd. |
| "He was kind, gentle and very laid back, he never took life too seriously and was always laughing and joking. We will have so many fond memories of him. | "He was kind, gentle and very laid back, he never took life too seriously and was always laughing and joking. We will have so many fond memories of him. |
| "We are devastated by his loss, especially as we will not be able to experience the fantastic young man he was destined to have become." | "We are devastated by his loss, especially as we will not be able to experience the fantastic young man he was destined to have become." |
| Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC Max was trapped by a metal grate at the entrance to the drain and was submerged for about 20 minutes. | Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC Max was trapped by a metal grate at the entrance to the drain and was submerged for about 20 minutes. |
| They described Max's death as "absolutely tragic". We were doing all we could to try and save this lad Peter Cleary | They described Max's death as "absolutely tragic". We were doing all we could to try and save this lad Peter Cleary |
| Steve Harrison, from the service, said: "What we saw in the water was one young man trying to hold on to his friend who was totally submerged under into the water. | |
| "He was being held under the water in that position because of the pressure and the volume of the water that was driving through the culvert." | |
| Fire service colleague Peter Cleary said: "A culvert is like a concrete tunnel, which has some bars to stop weeds and debris from going any further, and it looks as if he was restricted at that point [by the bars]. | |
| "Our fire crews from Witney were in up to their necks in water. | "Our fire crews from Witney were in up to their necks in water. |
| "We wear buoyancy aids and jackets and we were doing all we could to try and save this lad." | "We wear buoyancy aids and jackets and we were doing all we could to try and save this lad." |
| He said crews attempted to resuscitate Max but he was later pronounced dead at hospital. | He said crews attempted to resuscitate Max but he was later pronounced dead at hospital. |
| "Unfortunately, this is just a real tragic event." | "Unfortunately, this is just a real tragic event." |
| 'Having laugh' | 'Having laugh' |
| Eastfield Road flanks a field, which is crossed by a drain that regularly floods and then attracts local children who like to play in the waters. | Eastfield Road flanks a field, which is crossed by a drain that regularly floods and then attracts local children who like to play in the waters. |
| Derek Gould, a 64-year-old painter and decorator, saw events unfold from his house, which borders the field where the tragedy took place. | Derek Gould, a 64-year-old painter and decorator, saw events unfold from his house, which borders the field where the tragedy took place. |
| He said: "There was a group of lads over in the copse having a laugh in the flood waters. There had been a lot of children in the area all day. | He said: "There was a group of lads over in the copse having a laugh in the flood waters. There had been a lot of children in the area all day. |
| Firefighter on the attempt to save the teenager | Firefighter on the attempt to save the teenager |
| "They were jumping in and playing around. Then we heard someone out of the back window yelling for help. | "They were jumping in and playing around. Then we heard someone out of the back window yelling for help. |
| "One fire engine came and they got one boy out but they could not get the other one out. | "One fire engine came and they got one boy out but they could not get the other one out. |
| "More engines came and later I saw the second boy come over on a stretcher. They were trying to resuscitate him. | "More engines came and later I saw the second boy come over on a stretcher. They were trying to resuscitate him. |
| "I used to play over there myself as a youngster. I could hear those kids having a laugh - now one of them has paid with his life." | "I used to play over there myself as a youngster. I could hear those kids having a laugh - now one of them has paid with his life." |
| Sue Williams, who also lives nearby, said: "I heard sirens, there was ambulance, police and fire engines and they all went rushing over to the field. | Sue Williams, who also lives nearby, said: "I heard sirens, there was ambulance, police and fire engines and they all went rushing over to the field. |
| "They brought one lad out. He was ok, though cold and wet, but about half an hour later they brought a stretcher out and they were performing CPR." | "They brought one lad out. He was ok, though cold and wet, but about half an hour later they brought a stretcher out and they were performing CPR." |
| Thames Valley Police said Max - known locally as Max Weeden - was one of a group of youths who had gathered in a field near Eastfield Road during Tuesday evening's flash flooding.Flowers were laid close to the path that leads to where the boy died | Thames Valley Police said Max - known locally as Max Weeden - was one of a group of youths who had gathered in a field near Eastfield Road during Tuesday evening's flash flooding.Flowers were laid close to the path that leads to where the boy died |
| Max "found himself in difficulty in a flooded area and got trapped in a concrete culvert and drowned", a police spokesman said. | Max "found himself in difficulty in a flooded area and got trapped in a concrete culvert and drowned", a police spokesman said. |
| He said details of the death would be passed to the coroner. | He said details of the death would be passed to the coroner. |
| The second boy was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning. | The second boy was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron, who is MP for Witney, said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of this 17-year-old boy. | Conservative leader David Cameron, who is MP for Witney, said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of this 17-year-old boy. |
| "My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time." | "My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time." |
| Richard Langridge, councillor for Witney North, said: "It's incredibly tragic. Unfortunately this is something which has been perhaps likely to happen so I am just incredibly sorry it has. | Richard Langridge, councillor for Witney North, said: "It's incredibly tragic. Unfortunately this is something which has been perhaps likely to happen so I am just incredibly sorry it has. |
| "I desperately hope we can do something to stop it happening again. | "I desperately hope we can do something to stop it happening again. |
| "I've been working with David Cameron and the local district council to try to get the Environment Agency to fund a scheme of balancing ponds above Eastfield Road to hold the water back. | "I've been working with David Cameron and the local district council to try to get the Environment Agency to fund a scheme of balancing ponds above Eastfield Road to hold the water back. |
| "I will be putting more pressure on them to try to get the work started - it's long overdue." | "I will be putting more pressure on them to try to get the work started - it's long overdue." |