Tribute by mother of sea-tragedy teenager

THE mother of a teenager who died after being caught in a riptide and swept out to sea off the Yorkshire coast has spoken of the heartbreak of losing her son.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Aug 2010, 23:55 BST
Updated 27th Aug 2010, 23:55 BST

James Willis, 17, and two 16-year-old girls were believed to have been using an inflatable dinghy when they got into difficulties in the water while on a day trip to Whitby on Wednesday.

James, who was originally from Stockton before moving to Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, had managed to clamber up a ladder on the wall of Whitby's West Pier, but went back to help one of his friends and was hit by a number of waves.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was pulled from the water unconscious before being airlifted to Scarborough District Hospital where desperate efforts to revive him failed.

His mother, Paula, said: "James was a lovely, popular boy and will be sorely missed by all his family and friends. I am completely devastated by this tragic accident and I am trying to come to terms with his loss."

The three teenagers were on an adult-supervised trip to Whitby from a medium secure psychiatric unit for youths at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth.

It is understood the three teenagers were being supervised by four members of staff from the unit.

The two girls were treated for hypothermia and discharged.

Related topics:YorkshireWhitby