Heartbroken family of teenager who drowned in lake warn of dangers after body found

Ryan Evans was spotted getting into difficulty swimming in the lake with friends
Two other boys of 12 and 13 made it safely out of the water but Ryan disappeared
Police have been searching the waters since then but found the body today

By Sebastian Murphy-bates For Mailonline and Lara Keay For Mailonline

Published: 16:03 BST, 28 June 2018 | Updated: 16:42 BST, 28 June 2018

The family of Ryan Evans, who died after getting into difficulty in Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent, have urged others to avoid swimming in open water.

In a statement to Staffordshire Police, searched the lake for 50 hours, the family said: ‘Ryan was our world and was very much loved. We are all heartbroken and Ryan will be greatly missed.

‘We’d like to thank everyone for their efforts in helping to find Ryan; the diving teams, Staffordshire Police and anyone else who was involved in the search. We are so grateful to everyone.

Expert search teams are pictured heading into the water at Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent yesterday where they found Ryan Evans’s body

Ryan Evans, 13, of Stoke-on-Trent was last seen swimming in Westport Lake. His body has been found in the water by search teams

A diver is pictured searching Westport Lake in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

‘Thank you to all of Ryan’s friends, the staff and pupils from Haywood Academy and members of the public who have been in touch with the family. Your messages and condolences have given us great comfort at this very difficult time.

‘We are also overwhelmed by the kind donations and offers of help from everyone.

‘We just cannot emphasis enough the dangers of swimming in open water, especially where young children are concerned. Our message is simple, please don’t do it.’