Family say teen's tarn death shook community

Evie LakeNorth East and Cumbria
News imageHandout Absi Ahmed looking to the right of the camera. He has dark, curly hair which is short on the sides and long on the top. The photo is cropped close, with only his top and shoulders visible. He is wearing a black suit jacket, black shirt and black tie.Handout
Absi Ahmed died in the Lake District on 7 April

The family of a 17-year-old who died after getting into difficulty in a tarn said his "loss has shaken our entire community".

Absi Ahmed, from Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, died at High Dam tarn in the Lake District on 7 April, where he had been swimming with friends.

A multi-agency search was launched after Cumbria Police received a call at 12:32 BST from a member of the public who said someone was in trouble, and Absi's body was recovered by professional divers later that day.

In a tribute, his family said Absi was "a bright, funny young man with his whole future ahead of him".

"He was a loyal friend, a loving son, and someone who brought warmth and laughter wherever he went," they said.

"His loss has shaken our entire community."

A full inquest into Absi's death has been scheduled for 1 September.

Cumbria Police said Absi's family wanted to remind people of the dangers of entering opening water.

The force said if people got into difficulty in water, remember the Float to Live technique:

  • Tilt your head back, submerging your ears
  • Relax and control your breathing
  • Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
  • Your legs may sink – that's okay, everyone floats differently
  • Practise floating at a supervised location like a swimming pool

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