Tributes to drowned vicar's son

Tony Ballard drowned after going swimming with friends

The parents of a 17-year-old vicar's son who drowned in the River Severn have paid tribute to their "big-hearted and generous" son.

Tony Ballard, of Jasmine Close, Worcester, died after going swimming with three friends in the river near the city centre on Monday.

His father is the Reverend Duncan Ballard, the vicar of St Philip and St James' Church, in Whittington.

He and his wife Ellie said Tony was a "wonderful, loving, normal teenager".

They added: "He always lived his life for the moment, never worried about tomorrow, and he died with his friends around about him.

"We would like to pay tribute to his friends who did all they could to save Tony, to the police, fire brigade and ambulance staff for their hard work and support, and to the hospital staff at the Worcester Royal Hospital, who worked heroically to resuscitate Tony.

"Tony was big-hearted and generous of spirit, and that is how we will always remember him."

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd Dr John Inge, said he was "desperately sad" to hear the news.

An air ambulance, two rescue boats and several fire and police officers were involved in the search for Tony, who got into difficulties at about 1530 BST.

Tributes paid

He and his friends had been swimming about 200 yards from the Sabrina footbridge, which links Worcester Racecourse with Hylton Road.

His friends made it safely to the bank and called the emergency services.

Tony's body was found at about 1800 BST.

Tributes have also been paid to Tony on a Facebook page set up in his memory.

Det Sgt Paul Freeman, of West Mercia Police, said: "This appears to be a tragic accident in which one teenager sadly lost his life.

"The boy's friends are thought to have tried their hardest to rescue him from the water but unfortunately they were unable to save him."

Ch Insp Jerry Reakes-Williams warned people not to cool off in unsupervised water during hot weather.

He added: "The water is inevitably much colder than the ambient temperature - and the current usually stronger than anticipated - and even good swimmers can soon get into difficulties in these conditions.

"We hope that during the projected heatwave over the next few days - and perhaps weeks - everyone will heed this warning and resist entering rivers, streams, canals, ponds, lakes and quarry-water."