TRIBUTES have been paid to a Worcester teenager who passed away hours after he was rescued from a city canal.
Sean Stevens died following the incident at Bilford Top Lock on the Worcestershire and Birmingham Canal on Thursday (March 31) evening.
Police officers were called to the scene after concerns for the 17-year-old’s safety before the teenager was then taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he later died.
Supt Kevin Purcell said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Sean’s family, who have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.
“A full and thorough investigation is being conducted into this incident and we are working to establish how Sean came to be in the canal.
“I would like to appeal to anyone who has any information about this incident to contact police.
“We are particularly interested in talking to anyone who saw a group of teenagers, or young adults, in and around the canal path from Worcester city centre up to Perdiswell last night from 7pm onwards,” he added.
Grieving friends have paid tribute on the Facebook page set up in his memory with many expressing their shock at his passing.
One poster wrote: “As a parent myself I can not even begin to imagine what your parents are going through.
“Stay strong all of you. Take it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.”
Another friend wrote: “Forever and always in our hearts Sean. Taken way too soon.
“I still cannot come to terms with the fact that you’re gone. Doesn’t feel real, it never will.
“I will forever reminisce on our memories, never forgotten
One of the most poignant messages read: “Can’t stop thinking about all the times you were there, never walked away, never gave up on me.
“We never argued apart from once, you’d make sure I was okay,” the message read.
Sean’s death has prompted a number of fund-raising projects in his memory including a bid for a memorial bench near the spot where he lost his life.
Christina Lambourne who set up the JustGiving page said: “We want to do something so that he will always be with us and we thought a bench with a nice plaque would be perfect.
“We miss him so much so please help us his friends and family raise £1,000 to get a bench he would be proud of,” she added.
Visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Seansbenchjustgiving for more information on the appeal.
A further fund-raising page has been set up to raise money towards funeral costs and can be found at crowdfunding.justgiving.com/lynne-essex-1
Meanwhile a fund-raising campaign has been endorsed by Sean’s mum for a bench in Abbey Park, Pershore, near where the teen used to live.
Visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/tiffany-smith-1 for more information on the fund-raising efforts.
