Twelve-year-old who drowned in pond

Twelve-year-old Lebohang Carrington Sibanda drowned on 7 May, 2008, while playing with friends at a pond in Scunthorpe.

Carrington, or Kenny as he was known to friends, was pulled out of water at Ashbyville Ponds in the evening after ambulance and air-sea rescue crews were called. He was transported to hospital by an RAF helicopter but pronounced dead after arrival at hospital.

Teachers at his school were quick to pay tribute to a "really lovely, likeable lad" while his friends flooded the internet with messages of remembrance.

He had been living in the Scunthorpe area with extended family after arriving from Africa three years ago. He was popular with his schoolmates and had been a regular on the school football team..

Carrington, who could not swim, died after a home-made polystyrene raft he had been playing with split in half. A police spokesman said family members had been on the scene at the time of the incident.

A memorial assembly was held the following day at Frederick Gough School. Headteacher Ben Lawrance spoke of their shock at the tragedy: "One of the reasons it has hit the school so hard is because Carrington was an extremely popular young man.

"He was a really lovely, likeable lad who worked hard in his lessons and played hard too. He had a host of friends from all five year groups, and as time goes on he will be missed more and more."

Carrington's former teacher at Grange Lane Infant School,George Evans said: "He was a very enthusiastic and lively lad. It has been quite a sombre day. A lot of the year six children were friends with him last year and a lot were friends with him outside school because this is a very close-knit community.

"Last year he had an active part in the football team and regularly played in all sorts of positions. I think his death is a loss to the community, and it is a real shame an accident could happen like this."

After the incident a spokesman for the emergency services issued a warning to other young people: "We are gravely concerned about the safety of people playing in or near water. The weather has changed for the better and members of the public will undoubtedly head for local beauty spots and waterside areas.

"Although very appealing these areas often possess hidden dangers which lie beneath the water line. Water has the ability to take a life in seconds as has been so tragically demonstrated. We appeal to people to stay away especially in light of the recently bright and sunny weather."

Carrington was the latest young person to have lost his life in the Ashbyville Ponds. Two girls drowned there in August 2000, prompting a huge safety campaign in the area.