Ryders Hayes Mear tragedy: Walsall pool victim named as Spencer Hurst

Spencer, 15, got into difficulty in the Ryder Hayes Mear in Walsall last night.

His friends told how he slipped out of their grasp in the water as they tried to grab him when he was struggling to breath.

MORE: "They tried to grab his hand he went under": Shock at death of youngster at Walsall pool

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An angler at the beauty spot reportedly dived in to try to save the Walsall supporter, but could not find him.

Emergency services including an air ambulance were called but were unable to recover the boy's body for another hour.

Spencer's sister Hollie said today: "We are all just in shock at the moment.

"We were very close.

"The police haven't really told us anything but we know that he drowned and was in the water for around an hour."

WATCH: Sister pays emotional tribute

Meanwhile David Mountney, the headteacher of Aldridge School where Spencer was a year 10 pupil, wrote to students at the school to stress the importance of caring for each other in the aftermath of such a traumatic event.

"When someone so young dies, it obviously impacts heavily on their family but also on the wider community, especially their school," Mr Mountney said, adding that Spencer had already established a strong friendship group despite being at the school for less than a year.

"We know he will be missed by all of us, and our sympathies are with his immediate family and friends."

Read the full letter here:

Walsall FC also paid tribute to the teenage fan, writing on social media: "The Club are deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of the passing of Saddlers fan, Spencer Hurst. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time."

It was claimed emergency services had struggled to get access to the lake through locked gates.

One resident said: "I got here about 20 minutes after, but I arrived the same time as the emergency services.

"They tried to go through the new estate and they couldn't get access so they turned around.

"When I got there, his friends were crying and saying that he felt out of breath. They tried to grab his hand and he went under.

"He was with about three others.

"There were some people fishing and one gentlemen jumped in and tried to find him. The man was in there for 10-15 minutes, but he couldn't find him.

"The youths all swim in there. It's really deep, it's really dangerous. You shouldn't swim there at all.

"It was awful, that many people came over.

"I heard shouting but I thought they were just playing. It wasn't until I saw the emergency services that I thought that something had happened, so I came over to see if I could help."

Friends paid tributes to the young school boy, who was a keen boxer.

Ewan Watkinson posted on Facebook: "RIP little Spencer Hurst, gone way too soon, top kid and top little boxer! RIP young en!"

Charlotte Mills also posted: "I only saw you on Sunday, with your big cheeky smile. Can't get my head round it. RIP taken far too soon. My heart goes out to your family and friends at this terrible said time."

A teacher also paid tribute to her pupil, Spencer, and said: "Rest in Spencer Hurst. Taught you when you were in year 1 and helped you in other years too. Fly high young man. Another who has gained his angel wings far too soon xx."

Police, fire service and the Hazardous Area Response team were also involved in the hunt for the boy.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "While staff on the ground searched the area, both the air ambulance and a police helicopter searched the lake from the air.

"Tragically, the boy was later recovered from the water and was confirmed dead at the scene.

"Although it is very hot at the moment, the dangers of going into open water cannot be underestimated."

The lake near the Ackers housing estate is notorious as a dangerous area for swimmers.

In June 2007, two teenagers tried in vain to save their friend Kee-rian White from drowning in the same pool.

Resident Graham Eardley: "It's a sad waste of a life or what could be just adolescents joking about, but it's not really joking about when you realise that there's mine workings under the pool, people get trapped and unfortunately yet another person has died.

"It's difficult to put any markings or fence the pool off. You could put a warning sign up, but will people take any notice of it in the hot weather we've been having?

"Hopefully they will and hopefully they will realise yet again that it's not safe to swim in Ryders Hayes Pool.

"I saw a lot of blue lights, a helicopter going overhead. Lots of sirens going off and people were saying there was a major incident going on.

"I was quite shocked seeing all these ambulances and police cars, thinking what on earth is going on.

"I've seen the odd adult even here, but no matter how good a swimmer you are there are mine workings down there and it's dangerous. Just keep out of the pool, now matter how inviting it looks."