This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news/2013/jul/24/divers-recover-bodies-girls-river-wear
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Teenager who died in river Wear jumped in to help her friend, police say | Teenager who died in river Wear jumped in to help her friend, police say |
| (2 months later) | |
| Tonibeth Purvis has been described as a heroine after it emerged the teenager died trying to save her friend Chloe Fowler, who had jumped into a fast-flowing stretch of the river near Washington, Tyne and Wear, to cool off in the hot weather. | Tonibeth Purvis has been described as a heroine after it emerged the teenager died trying to save her friend Chloe Fowler, who had jumped into a fast-flowing stretch of the river near Washington, Tyne and Wear, to cool off in the hot weather. |
| The girls were named by police after their bodies were found in the river Wear, hours after they went missing on Tuesday. Police have since revealed that other children also nearly drowned trying to help their friends. | The girls were named by police after their bodies were found in the river Wear, hours after they went missing on Tuesday. Police have since revealed that other children also nearly drowned trying to help their friends. |
| "I knew Tonibeth, she was loving and caring and always put people before her," said Bethany Rose-McCaffrey, a friend from Barmston, Washington. "If it had been a friend or a stranger, she would have gone to help. | "I knew Tonibeth, she was loving and caring and always put people before her," said Bethany Rose-McCaffrey, a friend from Barmston, Washington. "If it had been a friend or a stranger, she would have gone to help. |
| "She has died a hero trying to save a friend's life, which shows we really do have friends out there." | "She has died a hero trying to save a friend's life, which shows we really do have friends out there." |
| Superintendent Alan Veitch of Northumbria police said Chloe, who was 14 and from Shiney Row, near Sunderland, got in the water deliberately. "The emerging picture is that she went in to keep cool. | Superintendent Alan Veitch of Northumbria police said Chloe, who was 14 and from Shiney Row, near Sunderland, got in the water deliberately. "The emerging picture is that she went in to keep cool. |
| "I think there's a lot of children who were trying to effect a rescue. It's difficult for the children who were involved in the actual incident itself, as one or two of them nearly drowned." | "I think there's a lot of children who were trying to effect a rescue. It's difficult for the children who were involved in the actual incident itself, as one or two of them nearly drowned." |
| Chloe's family described her as a "beautiful, kind and caring girl". In a statement on Wednesday they said: "We would like to thank everyone involved in helping us to look for the girls. We would ask that we are given some time and privacy to grieve." | Chloe's family described her as a "beautiful, kind and caring girl". In a statement on Wednesday they said: "We would like to thank everyone involved in helping us to look for the girls. We would ask that we are given some time and privacy to grieve." |
| On Wednesday, friends of the two girls laid flowers on the riverbank. | On Wednesday, friends of the two girls laid flowers on the riverbank. |
| Joss Richards, 13, was in the same school class as Tonibeth. "She did not have a bad bone in her body, she was really, really nice," he said. "She had a wicked sense of humour and she always had a cheeky laugh about her." | Joss Richards, 13, was in the same school class as Tonibeth. "She did not have a bad bone in her body, she was really, really nice," he said. "She had a wicked sense of humour and she always had a cheeky laugh about her." |
| The headteachers of the schools the girls attended also paid tribute. | The headteachers of the schools the girls attended also paid tribute. |
| Tony Cunningham, headteacher at Oxclose Community academy, said: "Chloe was a popular pupil who had many friends in school. She was determined to succeed in everything she set her mind to and she will be sadly missed by staff and pupils alike." | Tony Cunningham, headteacher at Oxclose Community academy, said: "Chloe was a popular pupil who had many friends in school. She was determined to succeed in everything she set her mind to and she will be sadly missed by staff and pupils alike." |
| Tonibeth had attended Oxclose academy in year 7, but had moved to Washington school. Her headteacher, John Hallworth, said: "The thoughts and prayers of all at Washington school are with Tonibeth's parents, grandparents, wider family and friends at this tragic time of loss. | Tonibeth had attended Oxclose academy in year 7, but had moved to Washington school. Her headteacher, John Hallworth, said: "The thoughts and prayers of all at Washington school are with Tonibeth's parents, grandparents, wider family and friends at this tragic time of loss. |
| "Tonibeth joined Washington school this year. She had settled into school life here very well and had already made a good and close group of friends. | "Tonibeth joined Washington school this year. She had settled into school life here very well and had already made a good and close group of friends. |
| "Her teachers and pastoral staff speak of a quiet and caring young lady who had a most promising future and who was looking forward to achieving a broad suite of qualifications. There is a very palpable sense of loss at school this morning." | "Her teachers and pastoral staff speak of a quiet and caring young lady who had a most promising future and who was looking forward to achieving a broad suite of qualifications. There is a very palpable sense of loss at school this morning." |
| Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West, said: "This is an absolutely heartbreaking incident, and a tragic reminder of the danger of swimming in our rivers and lakes, which lots of young people are tempted to do in the hot weather. | Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Sunderland West, said: "This is an absolutely heartbreaking incident, and a tragic reminder of the danger of swimming in our rivers and lakes, which lots of young people are tempted to do in the hot weather. |
| "Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and my thoughts go out to the girls' families and friends at what will be an incredibly difficult time." | "Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and my thoughts go out to the girls' families and friends at what will be an incredibly difficult time." |
| The teenagers were in the Wear at Fatfield, Washington, at about 3pm on Tuesday when they were swept away by strong currents. An off-duty policeman and a member of the public tried to save them before about 100 emergency service personnel joined the search and rescue effort. | The teenagers were in the Wear at Fatfield, Washington, at about 3pm on Tuesday when they were swept away by strong currents. An off-duty policeman and a member of the public tried to save them before about 100 emergency service personnel joined the search and rescue effort. |
| A boy who also attempted to rescue the girls was pulled to safety by the police officer, who had been out jogging. | A boy who also attempted to rescue the girls was pulled to safety by the police officer, who had been out jogging. |
| Emergency services workers searched into the evening to locate the girls and, as darkness fell, a helicopter searchlight was used to scour the river. | Emergency services workers searched into the evening to locate the girls and, as darkness fell, a helicopter searchlight was used to scour the river. |
| Dozens of people had gathered on the riverbank to watch the rescue effort and were shocked as news broke that both bodies had been found. | Dozens of people had gathered on the riverbank to watch the rescue effort and were shocked as news broke that both bodies had been found. |
| Veitch said the off-duty officer who pulled the boy from the Wear told him later: "I did what anybody else would do." He said: "He is OK but it has been traumatic for him too. The boy he rescued is very deeply traumatised." | Veitch said the off-duty officer who pulled the boy from the Wear told him later: "I did what anybody else would do." He said: "He is OK but it has been traumatic for him too. The boy he rescued is very deeply traumatised." |
| The body of a man in his 20s was pulled from Thirlmere reservoir in Keswick, Cumbria, on Wednesday, apparently the latest victim of a spate of similar incidents this summer. | The body of a man in his 20s was pulled from Thirlmere reservoir in Keswick, Cumbria, on Wednesday, apparently the latest victim of a spate of similar incidents this summer. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |