Pictured: Teenage boy, 14, who drowned in River Thames

Pictured: Teenage boy, 14, who drowned in River Thames as he tried to cool off in the heat – as his devastated parents reveal he could not SWIM and hated being in water

• Brian Sasu, 14, was with pals at Tagg’s Island in Hampton southwest London 
• His family said he could not swim and got in difficulty in the water amid 37C
• Police immediately search for him on Monday and a body was found today 

The devastated parents of a teenager who drowned after going for a dip in the River Thames to ‘cool off’ have revealed that he could not swim and hated being in water.

Brian Sasu, 14, who is pictured for the first time, was with pals at Tagg’s Island in Hampton southwest London on Monday afternoon as temperatures reached 37C when he got into difficulty and went missing in the Thames.

Police immediately started a search using specially trained officers and equipment and eventually found his body on Tuesday late afternoon.

The youngster’s heartbroken father, George Sasu told MailOnline: ‘Brian could not swim, he hated being in the water. He only liked playing football and never showed any interest in any kind of water sports.

‘We are all devastated, this is like a nightmare. At the moment, we are waiting to hear more details from the police. This is a very difficult time for us.’

Brian Sasu, 14, who is pictured for the first time, was with pals at Tagg’s Island in Hampton south west London on Monday afternoon as temperatures reached 37C when he got into difficulty and went missing in the Thames

Mr Sasu revealed that he last had contact with Britain at around 2.30pm on Monday but that he did not tell him he was going swimming to the Thames with pals.

He cried: ‘Brian didn’t tell me anything. He just said I’m hanging out with some friends because their school had finished early. If he had told me he was going swimming then I would not have allowed him to go because I know he can’t swim.

‘That’s probably why he didn’t tell me what he was doing. I think Brian getting into the water was because of the heat and peer pressure. And it’s led to this terrible tragedy.’

Brian’s mother, Leticia, 50 sobbed: ‘I haven’t been able to sleep or eat since this incident. My son just had some basic swimming lessons when he was at primary school but never enjoyed them and never learnt to swim properly.

‘I’m not able to think straight and this whole thing has left me, and the family crushed.’

Mr Sasu and his wife warned other parents that they should be aware of the dangers of their children going swimming during the heatwave.

Mr Sasu said: ‘It’s very hot at the moment and a lot of youngsters just want to play in the water to cool off. But I wouldn’t want any other family to experience what we are going through.

Police immediately started a search using specially trained officers and equipment and eventually found his body on Tuesday late afternoon

‘Parents and children need to be aware of the dangers of swimming in open water where there are no life guards or reduce facilities. And if there any youngsters like my son Brian who can’t swim at all, then please, keep away from the water.’

Brian, who had two siblings, a sister aged 17 and younger brother, 9 attended St Mark’s Roman Catholic School in Hounslow, west London where a special assembly was held today following the news of him going missing.

A classmate of his, who did not want to be named said: ‘The whole school is in shock and we were told to pray for Brian and is family. This has hit us all hard.

Police immediately started a search using specially trained officers and equipment and eventually found his body on Tuesday late afternoon. 

‘Brian was a very popular pupil, always laughing and joking and nobody has a bad word to say about him. A lot of his classmates have been crying and are very upset by what’s happened.’

Brian is believed to have gone to Tagg’s Island with a group of school pals after the school closed early because of excessive heat.

Following the extensive search, Richmond police in southwest London tweeted: ‘We are sad to report that the body of a 14-year-old boy has been recovered from the Thames this afternoon. Our thoughts are with his family, who are being supported by officers.’

Source: Read Full Article