Lifesaving courses in teen's memory 'bring joy'

Lifesaving courses started in memory of a teenager who drowned while swimming in a river "bring joy" to his family, his father has said.

Ronalds Abele, 17, died after getting into difficulty in the River Nene at The Embankment in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on 10 May last year.

Free lifesaving courses began at the town's Waendel Leisure Centre in October, and five have run so far.

Ronalds' father Thomas Akyere said the family was looking at how to fund future sessions.

Mr Akyere has attended every course, which includes a theory section in which his son's story is told.

"It's really tough to hear what is being discussed and to think if one of his friends had that knowledge it would be a different situation altogether...but the positive is we are encouraging other families to enrol in the course," he said.

Ronalds' brother Eli, who has also been at every session, said: "I don't like what happened but I feel it's drawn a lot of attention to water safety, and lots of people are engaging with it, so I'm quite happy."

The one-day sessions are free to attend, and include information about preventing cold water shock, how to call for help and how to "reach rescue" to get people out of the water without going in.

Viktorija Fjodorova, who taught Ronalds at the Latvian Supplemetary School in Northampton, said the community was "shocked" by what had happened to such a "brave, smiling and helpful" guy.

"When Ronalds' dad started to run this course, it's for my kids... to tell them it's not always safe when you know how to swim," she said.

Rachel Parish, a swimming teacher at the Waendel Leisure Centre, said teenage boys were the "worst" statistic and that "they think they are invincible and they're really not".

She said: "Just because they can swim in a swimming pool... doesn't mean they can swim brilliantly in a river, lake or canal."

The courses have trained about 50 people so far and have been paid for by local fundraising, Places Leisure which runs Waendel Leisure Centre, and through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Ms Parish added: "If we can keep getting more funding, we can keep delivering more services... and hopefully stop more disasters happening to local families."

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