Latest news with #Beccles
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Funeral held for 'remarkable' teenager after Beccles river death
Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a teenager who died in a river. Nischay Patel, 14, had been swimming with friends in the river Waveney at Beccles Quay on the evening of 3 friends and fellow pupils of Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, where Nischay was a year 9 student, came together at the Waveney Memorial Park to pay their respects to the much-loved boy.A tribute from his parents, Ketan and Praptiben Patel, said: "He touched our lives with his unwavering kindness, gentle wisdom and boundless love." A private Hindu ceremony took place on Saturday morning, followed by a memories service and then his funeral, attended by everyone to pay their final Patel family, who own a newsagents in Beccles, said in a Facebook tribute: "This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers."Flowers and tributes were left at Beccles Quay and outside the family's shop. An online fund set up by two women who knew Nischay and his family has raised almost £14,000 to Bird and Layla Eales set up the appeal to help his family cover any lost income and funeral costs, with the remainder being used on life-saving equipment at the riverside - and a memorial bench. Richard Crozier, a former teacher at Notre Dame High School in Norwich and who owns a shop adjacent to the family's shop, said: "It was immediately obvious that Nischay had a spirit, a kind of life force, which is very rare in a young lad."He and his brother worked as a team, changing students' minds and attitudes in the most subtle of ways. "He was magical in his ability to communicate. A remarkable, remarkable boy."He said Nischay's popularity was evident in the numbers of young people who attended his funeral."He was a real leader of people," Mr Crozier added, "and would have been, I'm absolutely convinced, quite a national figure." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- BBC News
Beccles family pay tribute to son who died in Beccles river
The family of a teenage boy who died in a river have described their loss as "unimaginable" in a tribute posted on their behalf by a community tribute to Nischay Patel, released by Beccles town councillor Tarek Lahin, said the boys' parents were "deeply grateful" to the emergency services and thanked them for their "swift and compassionate response during this incredibly painful time".Crews were called to Beccles Quay in Suffolk when Nischay failed to resurface after entering the River Waveney on Wednesday body of the year nine Sir John Leman High School pupil was later found by search teams. Ketan and Praptiben Patel, who own a newsagents in Beccles, said in the Facebook tribute: "This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers. "Your compassion has touched our hearts more deeply than words can express."Our heartfelt thanks also go out to the wonderful people of Beccles and those from across the country who have shown us so much kindness, love, and support."Flowers and tributes have been left at Beccles Quay and outside the family's described how those "thoughtful gestures" had brought "immense comfort". The family's statement continued: "To everyone who has supported our family -particularly the emergency services and those who went above and beyond - please accept our sincerest gratitude. "As we take time to process this tragedy, we kindly ask for privacy and space, knowing your continued support surrounds us."They added their son's funeral details would be shared with the local community. They invited people to join them in honouring his life. An online fund set up by two women who knew Nischay and his family raised £8,000 in 24 Bird and Layla Eales set up the appeal to help his family cover any lost income and funeral costs. The remainder will be used for a memorial bench and for life-saving equipment at the riverside. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Parents pay tribute to 14-year-old boy who died swimming in river after going to play with his twin
The grieving parents of a 14-year-old schoolboy who died whilst swimming in a Suffolk river have paid tribute to him as they described their 'unimaginable loss'. Nishcay Patel was swimming in Beccles Quay near Fen Lane with friends and his teenage brother when the incident occurred at around 7.30pm on Wednesday. He entered the River Waveney while playing with his twin brother Niyam, but failed to resurface. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene as onlookers desperately tried to help the group of youngsters. But despite their best efforts, Nishcay, named locally, tragically died at the scene. His parents Ketan and Prabtiben Patel, who own a newsagents in Beccles, shared a heartbreaking statement in which they described the loss of their son as 'unimaginable'. They said: 'We are deeply grateful to the Police, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, East of England Ambulance Service, and HM Coastguard for their swift and compassionate response during this incredibly painful time. 'Our heartfelt thanks also go out to the wonderful people of Beccles and those from across the country who have shown us so much kindness, love, and support. 'The outpouring of sympathy—from kind words and beautiful flowers to thoughtful gestures—has brought immense comfort to our family. 'We would especially like to thank Sir John Leman High School, Thirst Youth Hub, the Beccles Community UK Facebook page, and the local newspapers for their continued support and compassion. 'This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers. 'Your compassion has touched our hearts more deeply than words can express. 'To everyone who has supported our family—particularly the emergency services and those who went above and beyond—please accept our sincerest gratitude. 'As we take time to process this tragedy, we kindly ask for privacy and space, knowing your continued support surrounds us.' Richard Crozier, 80 , a friend of the family told the Sun it was a 'terrible tragedy', adding: 'Nischay was a special person. He had a capacity for friendship across generations. 'He wasn't a boy of great numbers of words but he was a very tender-hearted lad.' Flowers and cards have been left at the scene by locals and wellwishers.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- The Sun
Heartbreak as schoolboy, 14, who died while swimming in river is pictured – with parents telling of ‘unimaginable loss'
THE devastated parents of a 14-year-old boy who died while swimming in a river have paid heartfelt tribute to him. Police scrambled to Beccles Quay, off Fen Lane, in Suffolk, just before 7.30pm on Wednesday after concerns for the safety of a teenager in the water. 3 3 The schoolboy had entered the River Waveney with friends but had not resurfaced, said cops. Despite the efforts of onlookers, emergency services and of members of the public, the youngster - named locally as Nischay Patel - tragically died at the scene. Ketan and Praptiben Patel, owners of Tabers Newsagents in Beccles, have now paid tribute to their son Nischay in a Facebook post following the tragedy. Their heartbreaking statement read: "We are deeply grateful to the Police, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, East of England Ambulance Service, and HM Coastguard for their swift and compassionate response during this incredibly painful time. "Our heartfelt thanks also go out to the wonderful people of Beccles and those from across the country who have shown us so much kindness, love, and support. "The outpouring of sympathy—from kind words and beautiful flowers to thoughtful gestures—has brought immense comfort to our family. "We would especially like to thank Sir John Leman High School, Thirst Youth Hub, the Beccles Community UK Facebook page, and the local newspapers for their continued support and compassion. "This loss is unimaginable, and as we grieve, we hold close the love of our friends, family, and customers. "Your compassion has touched our hearts more deeply than words can express. "To everyone who has supported our family—particularly the emergency services and those who went above and beyond—please accept our sincerest gratitude. "As we take time to process this tragedy, we kindly ask for privacy and space, knowing your continued support surrounds us." His death has devastated the town, with dozens of flowers and cards left both at the quay and outside the family shop. Richard Crozier, 80, a friend of the family who runs a neighbouring shop, said it had been a "terrible tragedy". 'Nischay was a special person. He had a capacity for friendship across generations," he told Eastern Daily Press. 'He wasn't a boy of great numbers of words but he was a very tender-hearted lad.' Barry Darch, mayor of Beccles, said: 'Beccles is a tight knit community and I'm sure the whole town is in grief.' 3
BBC News
04-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Phenomenal' response to fund after Beccles river death
An online fund set up to help the grieving family of a boy who died in a river has had a "phenomenal" response, one of its organisers teenager was in the River Waveney at Beccles, Suffolk, on Wednesday when he failed to resurface. His body was found by emergency services that Eales and Terri Bird said they wanted to instigate a financial show of support, with their appeal raising more than £8,000 in 24 hours. "It's the only way we can get the community involved and they've been absolutely brilliant - phenomenal," said Ms Bird. Emergency services were called to the quay area, beside the A146 bridge, just before 19:30 BST on rescue attempts, the body of the boy, a Year 9 pupil at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, was later recovered from the Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and a file was being prepared for the coroner. The friends, who knew the boy and his family, said they wanted to do something after Ms Eales visited the quay on Thursday to pay her respects and lay flowers. "It makes your heart drop - you instantly think of the parents, and really feel for them, especially when you are a parent yourself and it's your local community," she said. "I saw the kids sitting there, heartbroken, and you feel helpless."They're a lovely family - he was really well thought of."The pair hope the fund will help cover any lost income and funeral costs, with the remainder used for a memorial bench and additional life-saving equipment at the riverside. "We wanted to help the family with anything they need," said Ms Bird."Our first target was £2,000, which we hit within three hours."It's phenomenal how much people are donating to help the family."The women hope their fund - and the memorial and equipment it pays for - will ultimately keep his memory alive."We knew that it would be someone we knew, it's a small town, everybody knows everybody," said Ms Bird."Your thoughts go straight to the family. "To think you let your child out to play and they never come home, it's devastating." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
